Drones to Monitor Himalayan Festival in Wake of Attacks

Pilgrims trekking to a sacred cave in the Himalayas this July and August can expect hi-tech measures to safeguard their journey. For the first time, security forces are deploying surveillance drones to keep an eye out for untoward incidents that may mar the annual pilgrimage, according to India Today.

The pilgrims are taking part in this year's Amarnath Yatra, a religious festival of the Hindu faith. Every year, fervent devotees of the Hindu god Shiva brave the mountainous journey to his shrine at the Amarnath Cave in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India.

The cavern is adorned with a snow-white stalagmite formed out of frozen water. The formation is considered a Shiva Linga in Hindu belief, meaning that it is a sacred marker representing the deity. Two other formations in the cave are seen as representative of Shiva's wife Parvati and their son Ganesha, respectively.

Legend has it that Amarnath Cave was the place where Shiva told his wife the secrets of divine life and eternity, as noted on the Amarnath Yatra 2016 website. According to the story, Parvati fell asleep during the telling, but two pigeons listened to all that was said and attained immortality. Pilgrims count it a good sign if someone should see the pigeons of the legend.

Amarnath Cave is considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindu faith. The annual yatra, or pilgrimage, attracts thousands of yatris (pilgrims), despite the risks of the journey to the sacred site.

The holy cave lies in an area of the Himalayas, where it sits at an elevation of 12,756 ft. It is 87.6 miles (141 km) from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and one of the starting points for the yatra. Alternatively, devotees may begin their journey from the town of Pahalgam.

The rugged trek takes at least five days on foot, and pilgrims may encounter risks such as harsh weather, landslides, and lack of oxygen due to the high altitude. Guerilla attacks are another serious concern. The Hans India reported that security forces are watchful after separate attacks in June claimed the lives of three border troopers and eight policemen, respectively, at points along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

In response, the security agencies are sending camera-equipped drones to fly round-the-clock over the entire trek, using a four-ring coverage approach. Image captures are being beamed to control rooms so that security forces can look out for telltale signs of danger to the yatris.