AMARNATH YATRA: Facial recognition to manage crowd monitoring along pilgrimage route

Srinagar, Jun 11: Jammu and Kashmir Police have installed facial recognition systems along the Pahalgam route of the annual Amarnath Yatra to detect and alert security forces about the movement of active terrorists and suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs). The technology is aimed at strengthening security for the pilgrimage and preventing potential attacks. "The Facial Recognition System (FRS) will trigger real-time alerts if any blacklisted individual appears on the surveillance cameras," the official said. "Images of active terrorists and suspected OGWs have been uploaded into the system to ensure foolproof monitoring." When a match is detected, a hooter sounds at the surveillance center, prompting immediate action by security personnel.

The FRS identifies individuals by analysing facial features from digital images or video footage and comparing them with entries in a centralised database. One such system has already been installed near the Nunwan base camp, where all pilgrims are screened before proceeding on the journey to the holy cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. Officials said similar systems are expected to be set up along the shorter Baltal route ahead of the yatra’s start on July 3.

The pilgrimage concludes on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. This year, the yatra duration has been shortened to 38 days, down from 52 days in 2024. More than 300,000 pilgrims have registered for the 2025 pilgrimage so far.