All national highways connecting Haridwar closed

Haridwar, Jul 21 (UNI) All national highways to and from Haridwar have been reserved for Kanwarias from today to give them a safe passage.

Traffic on all highways including the Haridwar-Delhi national highway, Haridwar-Saharanpur national highway, Haridwar-Moradabad national highway and Haridwar-Dehradun national highway has been diverted through alternative routes.

Sources in the district administration say this year about 70 lakh kanwarias are likely to congregate in the holy city to take Ganga jal to pour on Lord Shiva in the temples of their respective regions on Shivratri on July 30.

In view of the mammoth crowds of the kanwarias and the increasing threat of the terrorist outfits on the religious places, the administration, in collaboration with the police of the neighbouring states, has made highly elaborate security arrangements in the city and on all the kanwar routes.

The inspector general of police (Garhwal range), Ashok Kumar said here besides the civil police, the para-military forces, the STF, the RAF, bomb disposal squads, units of divers and sniffer dogs have been deployed in and around the city.

"Close circuit cameras have been installed at all sensitive points on the kanwar routes and police personnel, in the garb of kanwarias, have mixed up with them, to keep watch on the activities on the anti-social elements. Places like Har-ki-pauri, Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi have been put under high security cover,'' he said.

UNI XC AKJ DS1430