The annual Kanwar Yatra, a pilgrimage where devotees carry ‘holy water’ from Haridwar to various states, is anticipated to bring a significant increase in traffic on the roads. To ensure the safety of children and facilitate the smooth passage of the devotees, all schools and educational institutions in Ghaziabad will be closed from July 29 to August 2. The district magistrate (DM) of Ghaziabad, Indra Vikram Singh, issued an order stating that all primary/upper primary schools and secondary schools will remain closed for the duration of the Yatra.
The Kanwar Yatra begins on the first day of Sawan month, which fell on July 22, and concludes on August 2 with Sawan Shivratri. During this time, a large number of devotees, particularly from Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, travel through Ghaziabad on their way to offer the holy water to Lord Shiva.
To manage the influx of devotees and ensure their safe passage, officials have imposed strict traffic restrictions. All vehicles, even small and light ones, have been banned on certain routes. The Ghaziabad Police has intensified security in key areas, particularly after an incident in Muradnagar where a car allegedly hit some Kanwariyas, leading to the driver being thrashed and the vehicle vandalized. The devotees subsequently blocked a stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.
Schools in Haridwar, Muzaffarnagar, and Hapur have also implemented similar closures until August 2, as they too are expected to experience a surge in the movement of Kanwariyas. The district inspector of schools, Dharmendra Sharma, has stated that around 50 higher secondary and 80 primary schools are located along the Kanwar route in Ghaziabad. He also emphasized that any institution violating the closure order will be penalized.
The Ghaziabad Police has imposed traffic restrictions and intensified security in some areas of the district. The stringent security measures were imposed after a car allegedly hit some Kanwariyas in Muradnagar. The devotees then thrashed the driver and vandalised the vehicle, PTI reported. After the incident, the Kanwariyas blocked a stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. (With inputs from PTI)
