Early Times Report
jammu, July 6: To provide security to the Amarnath pilgrims arriving here for the holy yatra, drones hovering over the Bhagwati Nagar base camp are maintaining round the clock vigil.
''On Centre's directions, drones were introduced at the Yatra Niwas situated at Bhagwati Nagar here to keep a watch on every movement around,'' official sources here told.
They said that the drones are activated at the base camp, adding, ''they are being operated with the help of a battery which has 20 to 25 minutes duration.''
''The high frequency drones, hovering over the Yatri Niwas, can capture activities in the range of two to three kilometres,'' they said. Those operating the security device, keep replacing the batteries after stipulated time duration to keep it working 24x7.
Besides the Yatri Niwas, the drones are also functional on both Baltal and Pahalgam tracks keeping in view the security scenario, they asserted.
Sources, however, said, ''drones are also being used to monitor the pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave Shrine.''
The devices hover over the base camp, entire trek round the clock and beam pictures back to the control rooms to ensure the safety of pilgrims, they said and maintained, ''the measure has been taken in additional to the four-ring security cover provided to the pilgrims journeying to the cave''.
Sources further said that this is for the first time, that Closed Circuit Cameras (CCTVs) are installed at the 'Langars' (community kitchen) set up on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
''This year, the security agencies against the backdrop of threat of attacks, have taken all safety measures and made optimum use of technology to keep watch on any unwanted and suspicious activity to avoid any untoward like incident,'' sources asserted.
Pertinent to mention here that CRPF, State Police are guarding and escorting the pilgrims from Lakhanpur onwards all along the route while the BSF is carrying out joint patrols with the Army along the stretch of international border.
The 46-day long Amarnath Yatra started on June 2 and will come to an end on August 1. |
