Security beefed up for Kanwar yatra

Security has been tightened in the district to ensure smooth 'Kanwar yatra' and traffic on Delhi-Haridwar national highway has been diverted. To prevent any untoward incident, the highway to Haridwar via Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad and Modinagar has been closed for eight days.Superintendent of Police (Rural) M M Beg today appealed to the public to help Kanwarias (devotees of Lord Shiva) pass through the city.Traffic from Delhi to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Roorki has been diverted to alternative routes.

"The traffic going to Meerut from Delhi will be diverted from National Highway 24 via Lal Kua, Pilakhuwa Hapur, Babugarh, Garhmukteshwar and Kithore," Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent Police Raghubir Lal said.

"All vehicles going to Haridwar from Delhi will come to Meerut via this route and will proceed via Bijnore and Najibabad. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply on closed road," he added.

Kawar pilgrims or Lord Shiva devotees gather at Haridwar to take a dip and carry water to offer it to Lord Shiva. Kanwarias are called so because they carry a 'kanwar' or pole on their shoulder with the covered water pots balanced on its two ends.