A parliamentary committee has proposed an integrated security and surveillance system for major tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, featuring centralized monitoring centers. The recommendation is part of a report covering administrative governance, socio-economic development, border and internal security in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, along with border security management in Ladakh. It calls for clear inter-agency standard operating procedures to be set and updated before each peak tourist season to allow coordinated responses to security incidents. The suggestions follow a terror attack on April 22 last year in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by militants sheltered in higher terrain. The panel advised developing comprehensive CCTV coverage, centralized monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments and periodic security audits at key sites. It also recommended reviewing inter-agency procedures before high seasons for timely joint action. The committee visited Jammu, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Kargil from May 11 to 15, 2026, assessing security at Gulmarg, discussing law and order with police in Sonmarg and reviewing border preparedness in Kargil with army representatives. Noting rising tourist numbers, the panel stressed that security at these locations affects safety perceptions, visitor experience and tourism growth. It suggested dedicated emergency response units, equipped ambulances, trauma care facilities and marked evacuation routes at busy spots, while praising overall security force readiness. Emergency contact numbers and safety instructions should be displayed at hotels, transport points and tourist facilities in multiple languages. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs further recommended periodic joint security audits and vulnerability assessments before the tourist season and Amarnath Yatra. In Ladakh, the panel welcomed advanced weapon systems, unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone technologies, modern surveillance equipment and all-terrain vehicles. It called for continued investment in integrated intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, counter-drone systems, secure communication networks and indigenous high-altitude technologies, urging the Defence Ministry to ensure timely procurement and upgrades.
