Divya Delhi: Officials said the Union Territory Home Department, following advice from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has banned drones, UAVs, and balloons along both main pilgrimage routes, the longer Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route in the south Kashmir Himalayas. This is part of the security routine to protect pilgrims and workers from emerging risks, such as militants using drones. Flights for medical crises, disaster relief, and security agency surveillance will be exempt. This year's 38-day yatra runs from July 3 to August 9. This is shorter than previous year's 52-day yatra. Officials stated the shorter time improves security and preparation. The Amarnath Yatra draws hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims from India and abroad. It has long been a terrorist target. A new technique in insurgent zones is drones being used to smuggle weapons or launch attacks, which worries security personnel. The April 22 Pahalgam terror assault, which murdered 25 tourists and a resident, has prompted increased security measures for the yatra. Almost 580 CAPF companies will patrol the yatra. The yatra will be protected by aerial surveillance, RFID pilgrim tracking, and multiple security measures. Authorities are cautious with two weeks till the pilgrimage. The no-flying order is preventive but necessary given the risks we face today, a police official said.