Navratri rush: Railways deploy Scouts & Guides, tight security along Vaishno Devi Yatra route

Anticipating a heavy influx of devotees during the auspicious Navratri festival beginning on Thursday, the Jammu Division of the Railways has deployed Scouts and Guides at railway stations to ensure smooth passenger movement and effective crowd management.

Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, said that during Navratri, major stations such as Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra witness a heavy volume of passenger traffic. To manage this situation, trained Scouts and Guides have been deployed on the front lines.

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Their primary responsibilities include ensuring orderly queues of passengers at platforms and at entry and exit gates; providing information regarding the correct platforms and trains to devotees, particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities, and women; coordinating with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) in the event of medical emergencies or inconveniences caused by overcrowding; and preventing crowds from congregating in specific areas at stations to avoid obstruction to passenger movement.

The railway administration has requested all pilgrims to remain patient during their journey, minimize the amount of heavy luggage they carry, and strictly adhere to the instructions issued by Scouts, Guides, and security personnel deployed at stations. The safety and convenience of passengers remain the utmost priority.

Meanwhile, an elaborate security cover has been deployed across the 13-km trek leading to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the Chaitra Navratras. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO Sachin Kumar Vaishya said that the entire shrine area, including the Bhawan and surrounding premises, has been decorated with flowers ahead of the nine-day festival.

The footfall of pilgrims this year has crossed 15 lakh, and it is believed that the yatra will further increase in the coming days, Vaishya told reporters.

The CEO said that multi-layered security arrangements have been made, with personnel from the CRPF, J&K Police, Shrine Board security staff, and the Army deployed in strength. An Integrated Command and Control Centre is functioning round the clock, and high-tech CCTV cameras have been installed to maintain constant surveillance, he added.

He further said that priority is being given to devotees with disabilities, and free battery car services, as well as pony services, will be provided to them as in previous years.