Jammu, June 27 : A total of 2,995 pilgrims escorted by the security forces left Jammu on Wednesday in two batches who will start their Amarnath Yatra that begins from Thursday.

According to the police, the first group of 1,091 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at 4.45 a.m. and were proceeding to the Baltal base camp.

While the other group of 1,904 'yatris' left at 5.40 a.m. and were proceeding towards the Pahalgam base camp.

Vijay Kumar, advisor to governor and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam flagged off the convoys to the valley from the yatri niwas, an official said.

With additional 213 companies of paramilitary forces augmenting the strength of the existing security forces in the state, nearly one lakh security personnel have been deployed to guard the 2018 Yatra.

The 60-day Yatra will end on August 26, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

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New Delhi: In a retaliatory move following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, the Indian Army reportedly carried out precision strikes on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) using indigenously developed “suicide drones.”

Dubbed Operation Sindoor, the strikes signify a tactical evolution in India’s defence capabilities. According to defence sources, the operation marked the first known use of indigenously-manufactured loitering munition systems in an active combat scenario.

These drones, officially known as Low-Cost Miniature Swarm Drones or Loitering Munitions, are believed to be the SkyStriker variant, a product jointly developed by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies and Israel’s Elbit Systems.

Unlike traditional UAVs, loitering munitions hover over target areas, identify threats, and strike with precision, effectively blending the features of surveillance drones and guided missiles. Each SkyStriker unit can carry a 5 to 10 kg warhead, has a range of around 100 kilometers, and operates silently due to its electric propulsion, making it ideal for low-altitude, stealth missions.

Sources indicate that the Indian Army placed an emergency order for around 100 SkyStriker drones in 2021, with manufacturing taking place at a facility in western Bengaluru. These drones are considered cost-effective and efficient tools against unconventional threats, providing frontline forces with real-time reconnaissance and offensive capabilities without endangering personnel.

Although there is no official confirmation from the Indian government about the use of these drones, political leaders across party lines have praised the armed forces for the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has temporarily suspended flight operations at key airports including Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot amid heightened tensions.