QR stickers, tight surveillance, 838 rest sheds–540 km route ready for Kanwar Yatra
Millions of kanwariyas, carrying holy Ganga water, will visit temples like Pura Mahadeva in Baghpat and Augharnath in Meerut. The Meerut Range, encompassing Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Hapur districts, anticipates over 20 lakh devotees at Pura Mahadeva alone. To support them, 838 temporary camps provide food, shelter, and medical aid. Additionally, 184 rest points line the 540-kilometer route.
Security arrangements are unprecedented this year, with a heavy police presence and cutting-edge technology ensuring pilgrim safety. Hundreds of police personnel are deployed across the route, supported by 119 security barriers equipped with CCTV cameras. Drones are being extensively used to monitor the 540-kilometre Kanwar route, providing real-time surveillance to prevent incidents and manage crowds.
A key highlight this year is the QR code system for eateries on the Kanwar route. On Wednesday, food safety officials in Muzaffarnagar and Meerut began pasting QR stickers at restaurants and dhabas. Linked to the Food Safety Connect App, these stickers, when scanned, reveal the establishment's registration number, owner's name, address, and menu details, ensuring access to hygienic, satvik (pure vegetarian) food. Divisional commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod emphasised, 'The QR code system promotes transparency, ensuring kanwariyas are not overcharged and can trust the food's purity.'
Rekha S. Chauhan, special secretary and additional commissioner of FSDA, elaborated, 'A special drive has been launched on all kanwar routes. We are putting up Safety App Connect stickers on all food stalls, eateries, and restaurants. Owners have been instructed to display proper rate lists for all items. Food quality is being checked along all routes, and hygiene is also being assessed.' Non-compliant eateries face fines up to ₹2 lakh under the Food Safety Act, 2006.
Manoj Saini, a restaurant owner on the Meerut-Muzaffarnagar highway, said, 'Officials visited my shop. We were instructed to maintain cleanliness during the Kanwar Yatra.'
Kanwariya Aman Kumar from Ghaziabad praised the initiative: 'QR codes make it easy to choose safe, pure food. It gives us confidence during our journey.'
Anita Devi, a kanwariya from Hapur, remarked, 'QR codes and clean food stalls make us feel cared for. It's a long walk, but these efforts make it easier to stay focused on Lord Shiva.'
Meerut Range DIG Kalanidhi Naithani stated, 'Our drone surveillance system, combined with a robust police deployment, ensures comprehensive monitoring of the yatra. We've stationed women police personnel at key points and established Lost and Found centres to assist pilgrims, particularly in 184 mixed-population areas where communal harmony is a priority.'
Meerut SP (City) Ayush Vikram Singh said round-the-clock patrolling and drone surveillance were being done. State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force teams, along with local divers, are on standby for emergencies. Several traffic diversions have been put in place in the region.
Meanwhile, the QR code and owner display mandate has sparked a debate, with critics citing risks of communal profiling, a concern raised in the Supreme Court's 2024 pause on a similar directive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Hans India
Stampede at Uttarakhand's Mansa Devi Temple, several injured
Haridwar: A stampede broke out at the Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar early Sunday morning, leaving several devotees injured. The incident occurred due to heavy overcrowding in the temple premises as thousands of devotees thronged the sacred site during the ongoing holy month of Shravan. Eyewitnesses reported chaos as people began pushing each other while waiting in queues, resulting in panic and a sudden rush. Rescue and relief operations were swiftly initiated. Medical teams and ambulances reached the site promptly, and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment. Authorities confirmed that relief work is still underway, and the situation is being closely monitored. Every year, Haridwar sees a massive influx of pilgrims during the month of Shravan, especially at the revered Har Ki Pauri and Mansa Devi Temple. This year, however, the situation turned grim due to an overwhelming crowd, triggering a stampede that has once again spotlighted the issue of crowd management at religious gatherings. This tragic incident adds to the growing number of stampedes that have occurred across India in 2025. So far, over 50 people have lost their lives in similar incidents at religious sites, railway stations, and public events. On January 8, a stampede occurred at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in the Tirumala Hills, resulting in the deaths of at least six devotees and injuring many others as hundreds of worshippers pushed to obtain tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam. On January 29, a stampede at the Sangam area during the Maha Kumbh claimed the lives of 30 people and left 60 others injured. Millions had gathered to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, considered one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar. In another major tragedy, 18 people were killed and more than a dozen were injured on February 15 at New Delhi Railway Station. The stampede broke out late at night, with most victims being Maha Kumbh pilgrims returning home. On May 3, at least seven devotees were killed and 80 were injured in a stampede during the annual 'Lairai Jatra' at Shree Lairai Devi Temple in North Goa's Shirgao village. On June 4, what was meant to be a moment of celebration turned tragic when at least 11 fans died in a stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB victory celebration of their maiden IPL title win in 18 years. Further details regarding the Haridwar incident are still awaited as authorities continue to assess the situation.
Mint
14 hours ago
- Mint
Japanese businessman leaves empire behind to become Shiva devotee in Uttarakhand: ‘That dream changed everything'
A 41-year-old Japanese man has traded his business empire for a life of spiritual pursuit in India. Hoshi Takayuki, now known as Bala Kumbha Gurumuni, was once the owner of a successful chain of beauty product stores in Tokyo. Today, he is a saffron-clad Shiva devotee, walking barefoot on a pilgrimage through Uttarakhand. Accompanied by 20 Japanese followers, Mr Takayuki was recently spotted participating in the Kanwar Yatra, carrying holy Ganga water. He also organised a two-day food camp for fellow kanwariyas in Dehradun, offering meals as part of his spiritual service. According to a report in The Times of India, Mr Takayuki's spiritual journey began nearly 20 years ago during a visit to Tamil Nadu, where he encountered Nadi astrology, an ancient Siddha practice involving palm-leaf manuscripts. The reading reportedly revealed that he had lived a past life in the Himalayas and was destined to follow a path rooted in Hindu spirituality. The turning point, however, came in a vivid dream. 'I saw myself in Uttarakhand in a past life. That dream changed everything,' he told TOI. Following this experience, Mr Takayuki gave up his business and adopted a new spiritual identity. He converted his Tokyo home into a Shiva temple and built another shrine soon after. In July, he returned to India to join the Kanwar Yatra. His friend Ramesh Sundriyal, an Indian-origin resident of Japan, shared that Mr Takayuki has also purchased 35 acres of land in Puducherry, where he plans to build a major Shiva temple. An ashram in Uttarakhand is also on the cards. 'I feel deeply attached to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. I believe I spent my past life here and am still searching for my village in the hills,' Mr Takayuki said.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
600 personnel to be deployed at Trimbakeshwar on first Shravan Somvar
Nashik: Around 600 personnel, comprising rural police, traffic staff, and home guards, will be stationed in Trimbakeshwar on Monday, the first 'Shravan Somvar', to maintain crowd control and ensure a safe environment. Trimbakeshwar temple, situated 28km from Nashik city, is one of India's 12 revered Jyotirlinga temples. While devotees flock to the temple year-round, the holy month of Shravan sees a significant surge, especially on Mondays (Somvar). This year, the first Shravan Somvar falls on July 28, followed by three more on August 4, 11 and 18. Devotees have already started pouring in, given the Shravan month began on July 11 in north India. However, the Shravan Somvars are expected to draw massive crowds from Nashik, the district, and beyond. Inspector Mahesh Kulkarni of the Trimbakeshwar police said, "We'll deploy around 600 personnel from Sunday afternoon to manage the crowds in Trimbakeshwar, considering the huge rush expected. Devotees not only visit the Trimbakeshwar temple but also circumambulate Brahmagiri, which can be a challenge. We'll be prepared to ensure a smooth experience for all." Police will be deployed on both routes to avert any untoward incident. Most of the devotees start the walk around the Brahmagiri mountain on Sunday evening, and after completing the detour, they take darshan in the morning before resuming their return journey. "The police presence will be higher on the third Shravan Somvar on Aug 11," the officer said. The Trimbakeshwar temple trust will also be deploying their security guards on the temple premises.
