Multi-agency mock drills focus on suicide attacks, calamities ahead of Amarnath yatra in Kashmir

From simulating fidayeen (suicide) attacks to natural calamities, the J&K Police on Tuesday (June 30, 2026) carried out a comprehensive multi-agency mock drill at Transit Yatri Camp, Panthachowk.

The police said these drills were to assess emergency preparedness and response mechanisms ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, which will start from July 3 from the twin routes of Sonamarg and Pahalgam in central and south Kashmir respectively.

“Security agencies have adopted a multi-layered approach by combining ground deployment with advanced surveillance measures, including aerial monitoring and supervision from elevated locations to maintain a comprehensive watch over the Yatra route and surrounding areas,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vidhi Kumar Birdi.

Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) conducts a mock drill ahead of the Amarnath Yatra 2026 at Yatri Niwas, Pantha Chowk, in Srinagar on June 30, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Drills were held also in case any unusual movement or suspicious activity was detected and the response. Besides militancy, Mr. Birdi said, “Several stretches along the pilgrimage routes remain vulnerable to natural calamities, including landslides, avalanches and glacial movement. Tabletop exercises have been conducted in coordination with local stakeholders, disaster management authorities and other departments associated with the Yatra to address these concerns”.

Authorities have mapped vulnerable locations scientifically. “Medical Response Teams (MRTs) and other emergency rescue units have been strategically deployed at sensitive locations to provide immediate assistance in case of any weather-related emergency or other incident,” said Mr. Birdi.

During the mock drill, designated police officers briefed all the agencies on their roles and Standard Operating Procedures ahead of the drill. The thrust of the drill was on response time, communication flow, coordinated action and adherence to emergency protocols, said the police.

“The drill simulated multiple scenarios including road traffic accidents, fidayeen attack, law and order contingencies, accidental injuries, evacuation, rescue operations and medical emergencies. The aim was to evaluate operational readiness, inter-agency coordination and effectiveness of emergency response during critical situations,” said the police. 

The drills also witnessed “a detailed debriefing session after the exercise to identify operational gaps, evaluate response mechanisms and further refine the emergency response plan and SOPs”. 

“The mock drill demonstrated the effectiveness of the existing emergency response framework while providing inputs to further strengthen preparedness ahead of the Yatra,” said the police.

The administration has set up an integrated command control centre to have round-the-clock monitoring of Yatra routes, dissemination of real time data and information, collection and compilation of data from the ground with respect to capacities of Yatra camps, availability of essential commodities and services.

In north Kashmir’s Baramulla, a multi-agency mock drill was held at the Railway Station Hamray. “Various emergency scenarios were simulated to evaluate the effectiveness of joint response mechanisms, communication, evacuation procedures, and crisis management,” the police said.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure the safe, secure and seamless movement of the yatra convoys and to facilitate effective traffic management, the Baramulla Police advised all tourists and visitors intending to travel to Gulmarg to strictly comply with the traffic restrictions.

“No tourist vehicle shall be permitted to proceed from Gulmarg towards Srinagar after 5 p.m. Likewise, no tourist vehicle shall be allowed to travel from Srinagar towards Gulmarg after 5 p.m. These restrictions shall remain in force throughout the notified Yatra period,” said the police.