Kanwar Yatra begins in Uttarakhand; 70 million devotees to visit Haridwar, Rishikesh, Neelkanth

The sacred Kanwar Yatra of the Shravan month is set to begin today in Uttarakhand. Millions of Kanwariyas have set out towards pilgrimage sites like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Neelkanth, and others to collect holy Ganga water. This year, the arrangements have been made stronger than ever before, with a coordinated focus on security, sanitation, and technology.
 
Haridwar is expected to witness the largest number of Kanwariyas, as it does every year. Accordingly, from today until the conclusion of the fair, 16 super zonal magistrates, 37 zonal magistrates, and 124 sector magistrates have been deployed in the district. They will manage security arrangements in two shifts.
 
To ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra and the convenience of the devotees, over 7,000 personnel from the State Police, SDRF, and paramilitary forces have been deployed. The Haridwar Mela area will be monitored through CCTV cameras, drones, and a centralised control room. For added security, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has also been stationed and will remain active in sensitive areas.
 
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Dr. V. Murugeshan said that the police force has been instructed to remain alert during the Kanwar Yatra, and all necessary security measures have been put in place.
 
Along the Yatra route, arrangements have been made for health camps, ambulances, mobile toilets, drinking water and waste management, with facilities available every few kilometres.
 
According to the administration, nearly 70 million devotees are expected to take part in the Kanwar Mela, which will continue until July 23.