NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary panel has recommended an integrated security and surveillance framework for all major tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, including centralised monitoring facilities and regular security audits.
In its report on administrative governance, socio-economic development and border and internal security of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as border security management and preparedness in Ladakh, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs called for coordinated security arrangements to deal with potential threats at tourist hotspots.
The recommendations come in the wake of the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
The committee recommended comprehensive CCTV coverage at major tourist destinations, centralised monitoring systems, periodic vulnerability assessments and regular security audits. It also called for clear inter-agency standard operating procedures to be formulated and reviewed ahead of every peak tourist season to ensure a coordinated and timely response to security incidents.
The panel further recommended joint security audits and vulnerability assessments before the start of the tourist season and the annual Amarnath Yatra to identify and address emerging security concerns.
The committee visited Jammu, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Kargil from May 11 to 15, 2026, as part of an on-the-spot assessment of security arrangements. During the visit, it reviewed security preparedness in Gulmarg, interacted with Jammu and Kashmir Police officials on the law and order situation in Sonmarg and assessed border security and operational preparedness in Kargil through interactions with Army personnel.
With tourist footfall in Jammu and Kashmir witnessing a steady increase, the panel said security arrangements at tourist destinations had assumed greater importance, as they directly influence visitors’ perception of safety, their overall experience and the sustained growth of the tourism sector.
The committee also recommended dedicated emergency response units, adequately equipped ambulances, trauma-care facilities and clearly identified evacuation routes at major high-footfall tourist destinations.
It suggested that emergency contact numbers and safety instructions be prominently displayed in multiple languages at hotels, transport hubs and other tourist facilities.
The panel appreciated the overall security and preparedness of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir but stressed the need for continued strengthening of emergency response and surveillance mechanisms.
On Ladakh, the committee expressed satisfaction over the induction of advanced weapon systems, unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone technologies, modern surveillance equipment, specialist mobility platforms and all-terrain vehicles.
It recommended sustained investment in integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, counter-UAS systems, secure communication networks and indigenous technologies suited to high-altitude conditions.
The committee also urged the Ministry of Defence to ensure timely procurement, deployment and periodic technological upgradation of such systems in strategically important sectors.
Overall, the panel called for stronger and more coordinated security arrangements at tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, along with continued modernisation of surveillance and defence capabilities in Ladakh and improved emergency response mechanisms.
