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Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Rain-battered tracks halt Amarnath yatra; Army rescues 500 pilgrims stranded in landslides
Rain-battered tracks halt Amarnath yatra SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir govt on Thursday morning suspended the pilgrimage to Amarnath shrine from the Jammu, Pahalgam, and Baltal base camps till the tracks, damaged due to incessant rain, are repaired. 'BRO has deployed men and machinery to repair the tracks for the resumption of the yatra on July 18,' a government statement said. The suspension of the yatra comes a day after a 52-year-old woman pilgrim from Rajasthan succumbed to injuries from a shooting stone and three others were injured in landslides along Baltal route in Ganderbal district Wednesday evening. 'Army rescued about 500 pilgrims stranded in landslides triggered by heavy rain. The yatra is scheduled to resume tomorrow, subject to weather conditions,' said defence PRO in Jammu, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. About 2.5 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan at the cave shrine in the first 15 days of the 38-day yatra through the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route, added the statement. Over 5.1 lakh pilgrims visited Amarnath shrine in the 52-day yatra in 2024, the highest number in 12 years.
United News of India
7 days ago
- Climate
- United News of India
Indian Army rescues around 500 pilgrims stranded on Amarnath Yatra route due to landslides
Jammu, July 17 (UNI) The Indian Army today rescued about 500 Amarnath pilgrims who were stranded because of landslides triggered by heavy rains and shifted them to safer places. "Yesterday around 7:25 pm, persistent rain triggered a landslide at Z Morh, between Rayalpathri and Brarimarg, resulting in the halting of Yatra movement and stranding a large number of pilgrims," said Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. "Responding to the situation, the Army detachment deployed at Brarimarg swung into action," he added. Around 500 yatris stranded in the area were accommodated in tents and provided with tea and drinking water, adding, "additionally, another 3,000 pilgrims found refuge in langars located between Brarimarg and Z Morh, which offered essential shelter and sustenance." The Indian Army Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) rescued a critically ill stranded yatri by undertaking a manual stretcher evacuation under adverse weather conditions and safely transported the patient to Rayalpathri from where an ambulance moved the individual for further medical care, he added. The spokesperson said the camp director at Brarimarg and the company commander of the Indian Army are present at the site and have assessed the situation as stable and under control, adding, "efforts continue to ensure the safety and well-being of all yatris in the area." As per weather prediction, light rains at both Rayalpathri and Brarimarg are likely, and the Army remains on high alert to respond to any evolving situation, he said. "These prompt actions are yet another testament to the Indian Army's professionalism, dedication, and humanitarian commitment during Amarnath Yatra 2025, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with every pilgrim through every challenge", said the spokesperson. UNI VBH AAB
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Amarnath Yatra: Indian Army launches Op Shiva, deploys 8,500 troops
Indian Army has launched 'Operation Shiva' and has deployed over 8,500 soldiers armed with sophisticated weapons and supported by a wide array of technological and operational resources to ensure smooth and hassle-free Amarnath pilgrimage. BSF personnel patrol during the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu on Saturday. (ANI) The ongoing pilgrimage will concluded on August 9 on the festival of Raksha Bandhan. The army has been working in close coordination with the civil administration and central armed police forces (CAPFs) to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, said defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, adding that as part of this year's enhanced security framework, over 8,500 troops have been deployed, supported by a wide array of technological and operational resources. This annual high-tempo operation aims to provide a robust security architecture along both the northern and southern yatra routes, particularly in light of the heightened threat from Pakistan-backed proxies in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, he added. A dynamic counter-terrorism grid, prophylactic security deployment and corridor protection measures have been instituted, he added. Comprehensive assistance to civil authorities is also being provided, particularly in disaster management and emergency response. The army has deployed counter-UAS (unmanned aerial surveillance) grid with more than 50 C-UAS and EW (early warning) systems each to neutralise drone threats. Regular UAV missions and live monitoring of yatra routes and holy cave is part of the daily security drill, he said. He also informed regarding the other measures in place, including engineer task forces for bridge construction, track widening and disaster mitigation, deployment of more than 150 doctors and medical personnel, with two advance dressing stations, nine medical aid posts, a 100-bed hospital, and 26 oxygen booths supported by 2,00,000 litres of oxygen, signal companies for seamless communication, emergency detachments for technical support, and bomb detection and disposal squads. 'Emergency rations for 25,000 persons, QRTs, tent cities, water points and plant equipment including bulldozers and excavators form the part of security grid. Indian Army helicopters also remain on standby for any contingency response,' said the spokesperson. 'By implementing live tracking of yatra convoys between Jammu and the holy cave, the army is maintaining constant situational awareness through high-resolution PTZ camera and drone feeds,' he said. Real-time updates on convoy movement are being monitored to pre-empt any threats, while seamless multi-agency coordination ensures swift response and effective security management across the entire route, he added.
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Army felicitates civilians for their role during ‘Op Sindoor'
Army's Ace of Spades Division, on Saturday, honoured civilians who played a pivotal role during 'Operation Sindoor' in restoring normalcy, said officials. Army's Ace of Spades Division, on Saturday, honoured civilians who played a pivotal role during 'Operation Sindoor' in restoring normalcy, said officials. (HT Photo) 'The locals of Rajouri, Poonch, Mendhar, Krishna Ghati, Manjakote and Naushera facilitated casualty evacuation, humanitarian and rescue operations under challenging conditions during Operation Sindoor,' said Defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. Operation Sindoor was a military operation launched by Indian armed forces on the night of 6th/7th May this year in response to a barbaric terrorist attack on civilians in Pahalgam on 22 April where individuals were targeted based on their religion with an aim to fracture peaceful coexistence, said Col Bartwal. A total of 26 people including a local pony rider were brutally killed by the terrorists. The Indian armed forces carried out a firm, focused, calibrated and non-retaliatory response against terror launch pads all along the western border. During the initial strike nine terror camps (four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir) were destroyed. 'In response Pakistan Army violated ceasefire all along the frontage and when they received befitting reply from armed forces, Pakistan Army targeted innocent civilians in Rajouri and Poonch district killing 17 civilians and injuring 50 others,' he added. However, continuing with their rich tradition of bravery, patriotism as has been demonstrated in earlier wars of 1948, 1965 and 1971 and undeterred by personal losses the people of Rajouri and Poonch joined hands and worked tirelessly along with the armed forces and emerged victorious, he said. The Ace of Spades Division GOC Gen Kaushik Mukherji felicitated the brave civilians who played a pivotal role during Operation Sindoor in restoring normalcy, he said.
United News of India
28-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Op Sindoor: Army felicitates 25 civilians for exemplary contribution in Rajouri
Jammu, June 28 (UNI) The Indian Army today felicitated 25 civilians for their exemplary contribution during Operation Sindoor in the bordering Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu-based defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal here said that the Ace of Spades Division of the Indian Army conducted a felicitation ceremony at Rajouri and honoured brave civilians who played a pivotal role during Op Sindoor in restoring normalcy. The locals of Rajouri, Poonch, Mendhar, Krishna Ghati, Manjakote and Naushera facilitated casualty evacuation, humanitarian and rescue operations under challenging conditions, he added. The event was presided over by Major General Kaushik Mukherji, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Ace of Spades Division. A video was screened at the beginning showcasing the joint effort and contribution of armed forces and locals in the success of Operation Sindoor, followed by two-minute silence paying homage to those who laid down their lives, including ADDC Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa. In his address, the general officer highlighted that Op Sindoor was not merely a military operation but a national assertion that India will safeguard its citizens and dismantle threats and acts with definite resolve and precision. He commended all civilians for their exemplary contribution during Op Sindoor, offering critical support when the country needed it most, thus ensuring that the fabric of society was not broken. Support through constructing civilian bunkers, dual-use shelters, casualty evacuation, stockpiling essentials and conducting civil defence drills witnessed across Rajouri and Poonch districts was indeed commendable, he added. The locals who attended the event during informal interaction thanked the armed forces for their efforts during the operation and ensured continuous support in future endeavours. The general officer assured the gathering that the Indian armed forces will always stand by its resolve to maintain sovereignty and territorial integrity and continue to uphold the age-old bonhomie that exists between the Indian Army and civil populace. The event concluded with a reaffirmation of mutual trust and cooperation between the Indian armed forces and the local population, underscoring the shared commitment towards peace, security and national integrity, said the spokesman. Operation Sindoor was a military operation launched by the Indian armed F\\\\forces on the night of May 6-7, 2025, in response to a barbaric terrorist attack on civilians in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, where individuals were targeted based on their religion with an aim to fracture peaceful coexistence. A total of 27 civilians, including a local pony rider, were brutally killed by terrorists. The Indian armed forces carried out a firm, focused, calibrated and non-retaliatory response against terror launch pads all along the western border. During the initial strike, nine terror camps were destroyed. In response, the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire all along the front, and when they received a befitting reply from the armed forces, the Pakistan Army targeted innocent civilians in the Rajouri and Poonch districts, resulting in 17 fatal casualties and around 50 injured locals, also affecting civil infrastructure, livelihoods and husbandry. Continuing with their rich tradition of bravery and patriotism, as has been demonstrated in earlier wars of 1948, 1965 and 1971, and undeterred by personal losses, the civilians of Rajouri and Poonch joined hands and worked tirelessly along with the armed forces and emerged victorious. UNI VBH ARN PRS
