Amarnath Yatra routes declared ‘No Flying Zone’ from July 1 to Aug 10
Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, june 17:
Several parks in Jammu and Kashmir’s tourist places, including some in Pahalgam, that were closed in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack were reopened on Tuesday, officials said.
The reopening of the parks has been welcomed by the tourists and local visitors alike who thronged the parks at several places.
Security personnel were deployed in strength around the parks to secure the areas and create a sense of security, they said.
Twenty-six people, most of them tourists, were killed by terrorists in Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday ordered the reopening of 16 parks — eight each in Jammu region and Kashmir Valley. He said the destinations would be reopened in a phased manner.
In the first phase, eight parks were reopened in the Kashmir valley.
Betaab Valley in Pahalgam and the parks near Pahalgam market, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district, Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen, and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal in Srinagar were reopened on Tuesday. Similarly, eight destinations were reopened in Jammu region as well including Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devipindi, Siyad Baba and Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda, and Pancheri in Udhampur.
A large number of school children welcomed the tourists at Verinag — a famous park in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, the officials said.
“We were already feeling good and happy to have come here, but the reopening of the park and the welcome we got is very nice,” a tourist from Patiali, Punjab, said.
“We are happy that this park opened after so many days. We have come here with our families and we will visit the park to show them beautiful Kashmir,” Barkat Ali, a tourist from Bikaner area of Rajasthan, said.
“It is a wonderful feeling and experience. We heard that the park was reopening today, so we came. But, the welcome we got is truly the best experience which we cannot express in words,” another tourist from Punjab said. They appealed the tourists to come to Kashmir in large numbers.
Tourist police personnel were also deployed to assist the visitors. Local MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir also welcomed the reopening of the park.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday declared the Amarnath yatra routes as ‘No Flying Zone’ as part of beefed up security measures for the annual pilgrimage. The Amarnath yatra has two routes – the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route.The declaration issued by Jammu and Kashmir Home Department on the orders of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said flying of any kind of aviation platforms and devices, including UAVs, drones, balloons, is prohibited from July 1 to August 10.
However, the restrictions will not be applicable in the cases of medical evacuation, disaster management and for surveillance by security forces. A detailed SOP for such exceptions will be issued subsequently.
The order said in view of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, which is scheduled from July 3, various security arrangements are being undertaken for smooth and peaceful conduct of the yatra.
“All stakeholders have discussed the prevailing security scenario in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and have proposed additional logistics provisions,” the order said.
It said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also advised that the entire route of Shri Amarnathji Yatra may be declared as ‘No Flying Zone’ from July 1 to August 10.
“Therefore, with a view to ensure strengthened security during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, 2025, all the routes of Shri Amarnathji Yatra are hereby declared as ‘No Flying Zone’, including both Pahalgam axis & Baltal axis,” the order said.
The beefed up security measures come in the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.
The Amarnath yatra attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the country reach year.
