Drones and CCTVs to secure 57km-long Kanwar route
2
Prayagraj: To offer foolproof security to kanwariyas, the devotees of Lord Shiva gearing up for the Kanwar Yatra in the holy month of Shrawan walking barefoot on the 57 km stretch between Sangam/Daraganj to Bhadohi border (Prayagraj-Varanasi route), Prayagraj police have divided the entire route into three super zones, seven zones and 17 sectors, deploying around 1,000 police personnel at static points.
Police have also implemented a three-layered security plan effective from July 11 to August 9. Moreover, the district traffic police authorities have decided to make the Prayagraj-Varanasi segment a one-way route from Saturday and divert the traffic for heavy and commercial vehicles on alternative roads.
The comprehensive security plan also includes three drones, over 550 CCTV surveillance networks at static locations, 12 mobile police pickets and helpdesks.
Barricading has also been done at Ganga ghats and other crowded route points. Around 1,000 cops are assigned duties round-the-clock in three shifts at static points.
"With thousands of kanwariyas all set to converge on Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath corridor to offer jalabhishek with holy Ganga water, top cops implemented an elaborate security and traffic management plan for the safety and security of kanwariyas," said DCP (Ganga Nagar) and nodal officer (Kanwar Yatra) Kuleep Singh.
He added that: "Devotees will be collecting holy water from Sangam, Dashaswamedh, and other ghats in Prayagraj and heading towards Kashi Vishwanath for jalabhishek."
As roads from Sangam nose to Shastri bridge and adjoining areas were already widened during the Maha Kumbh, this will offer traffic police the ability to regulate flow during the yatra.
Singh said an elaborate traffic plan has also been drafted beginning Friday to offer respite to daily commuters.
Police have also roped in personnel of Jal police and PAC (flood control) to ensure the safety of devotees at ghats in view of the flood season.
Besides barricades, medical teams along with ambulances are on standby to help kanwariyas when needed.
The department has also come up with a separate traffic management plan near prominent Shiva temples of city and forces are being deployed accordingly.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
About UNESCO World Heritage Preah Vihear Temple: Why this ancient Shiva temple has triggered war between Thailand and Cambodia
In a sad turn of events, the famous Asian countries Thailand and Cambodia, are currently fighting over centuries old Preah Vihear Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (in Cambodia), is over 900-years-old and has been a reason for conflict between the two countries for a long time now. Let's take a closer look at this historic temple: Location Preah Vihear in Preah Vihear province, is a historic temple dedicated to Shiva temple, set on top of a 1,722 ft cliff in the Dangrek Mountains in Cambodia (it is a natural border between Cambodia and Thailand). To give you a fair idea, the temple is about 140 km from Angkor Wat (the famous temple in Cambodia) and some 418 km from Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Architecture The temple dates back to the 9th century, and is well preserved mainly because of its remote location. This ancient Hindu temple was built during the reign of the Khmer Empire, and is one of the prime edifices of the empire's spiritual world The temple is counted among the most unusual among Khmer temples. It is because of its construction along a long north–south axis. So, in simple words, the temple is not built in the conventional rectangular format which generally faces toward the east. The place has exceptional architecture. The naturally blessed surroundings just add to its spiritual aura. Explorers are generally left surprised with the exceptional quality of its carved stone ornamentation. The Temple of Preah Vihear holds a universal value as it is a living example of Khmer architecture. The series of connected buildings, paths, and staircases along an 800-metre stretch are simply breathtaking. From design to decorations and the temple's location, everything is truly unique and valuable to the world. History of dispute over the ownership of the temple The temple has been the centre of dispute between Thailand and Cambodia for a long time now. If we go back in time, in 1962, Cambodia and Thailand fought for the over ownership of the temple. But the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague said that the temple belongs to Cambodia. It was on 7 July 2008 that Preah Vihear joined the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Soon after this, the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over the temple, once again started but this time too ICJ passed the judgement in favour of Cambodia in 2013. Thailand issues travel advisory In view of the current unrest along the Thai–Cambodian border, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has advised against visiting attractions in seven provinces — Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat. India issues travel advisory The Indian Embassy in Thailand has also written on X, 'In view of the situation near Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travelers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom. As per Tourism Authority of Thailand places mentioned in the following link are not recommended for travelling.' So before you make any travel for Cambodia or Thailand plan, check the updates.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Shiva temples at heart of Thailand-Cambodia clashes: All about Prasat Preah Vihear, Prasat Ta Muen Thom
Thailand and Cambodia are locked in a bitter spat over an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet. This area is also home to several ancient temples, including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple near which the recent clashes broke out early Thursday. The ancient Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia has also been the site of some of the most prominent and violent past conflicts between the countries. Prasat Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom, both Khmer-era Hindu temples about 95 miles apart, are two of the key sites where tensions flared on Thursday. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is reportedly on the Thai side of the border, and Prasat Preah Vihear is on the Cambodian side of the border. Both countries claim ownership of these disputed sites. Here's all you need to know about Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple in Thailand and Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia: The ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple stands along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. It is among the contested sites in Thailand's northeastern Surin province. Prasat Ta Muen Thom archaeological site is located at Ban Nong Khanna, Tambon Ta Mueang and is on the Thai-Cambodian border. It is a Khmer archaeological site of three buildings located nearby each other. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It houses a Shivling from a natural rock formation in its sanctum sanctorum. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is located about 800 metres to the south of Prasat Ta Muen Tot. It was assumed to have been built around the 12th century, which is older than its two companion temples — Prasat Ta Muen and Prasat Ta Muen Tot. It is part of a larger temple complex on a strategic pass along the ancient Khmer highway that links Angkor in present‑day Cambodia with Phimai in Thailand. Both sides have been fighting because of the temple's location. The temple, accessible from both sides, is in a poorly demarcated part of the border and stands as an important religious and cultural site for both Cambodians and the Thai. Troops from both countries constantly patrol the temple's area, leading to frequent skirmishes. Cambodia claims the temple is based on historical Khmer Empire boundaries, which included modern-day Cambodia and parts of Thailand. But Thailand say it's in its Surin province. Earlier in February, a group of Cambodian soldiers had reportedly visited the temple area and began singing their national anthem, The Khmer Times, a Cambodian news outlet, reported. They were confronted by Thai soldiers. The last time clashes between Thailand and Cambodia turned deadly over the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple was in 2011. The Preah Vihear temple is dedicated to Shiva and is situated on the edge of a plateau that dominates the plain of Cambodia. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been at the center of past disputes. It "is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, in terms of plan, decoration and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment," UNESCO says. UNESCO records the temple as dating back to the first half of the 11th century AD. Nevertheless, its complex history can be traced to the 9th century, when the hermitage was founded. This site is particularly well preserved, mainly due to its remote location. Amid the violence at the border, the Thai air force said F-16 jets carried out two bombing runs on Cambodian positions. Cambodia claimed those bombs landed near the Preah Vihear temple. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. Cambodia complained that Thailand had occupied a piece of its territory surrounding the ruins of the Temple of Preah Vihear. It asked the International Court of Justice to declare that territorial sovereignty over the Temple belonged to it and that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw the armed detachment stationed there since 1954. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the Preah Vihear temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations. It also held that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw any military or police force stationed there and to restore to Cambodia any objects removed from the ruins since 1954.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Delhi-Noida Traffic To Be Hit As Sarita Vihar Flyover Partially Closed
Last Updated: PWD to resume repair work on the Sarita Vihar flyover from Friday, leading to partial closure till August 8, likely causing heavy traffic from south-east Delhi, Noida, Faridabad The Public Works Department (PWD) will resume repair work on the Sarita Vihar flyover from Friday, resulting in its partial closure until August 8. The flyover's closure is expected to impact traffic from south-east Delhi, Noida, and Faridabad. Consequently, Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory detailing traffic restrictions and alternative routes for commuters. PWD officials announced that the carriageway from Badarpur to Ashram will be closed for repairs. The department had initially started long-pending repair work in October 2024, but it was suspended midway due to rising pollution levels and the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control dust pollution in Delhi-NCR. To manage traffic during the closure, at least 50 additional police personnel have been deployed on the flyover. A senior PWD official stated, 'The repair work was delayed due to elections, the model code of conduct, and weather conditions. Fresh permissions were also required for traffic restrictions." The Sarita Vihar flyover, located on Mathura Road, connects Delhi to Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Faridabad (Haryana), and parts of south-east Delhi. This is the first time in 24 years that the flyover will undergo major repairs. The PWD initially planned to start repair work in 2023. However, it faced repeated delays due to various reasons, including the untimely publication of traffic diversion notices in newspapers, which led to the withdrawal of traffic police approval. Other factors like the Lok Sabha elections, Kanwar Yatra, and rising pollution levels also contributed to the postponements. Traffic Advisory & Alternative Routes According to traffic police, commuters travelling from Badarpur in south-east Delhi towards South Delhi and Faridabad will likely face congestion near Mathura Road. Areas like Sarita Vihar, New Friends Colony, Okhla, and Govindpuri may experience long traffic jams. The route from Badarpur to Ashram via the flyover will remain closed. Police have urged people to avoid the affected stretch and use the following alternative routes: Alternative Route 1: Commuters from Badarpur can take MB Road towards Pul Prahladpur and Lal Kuan, turn right towards Maa Anandmayi Marg, Crown Plaza, Govindpuri, and then use Modi Mill flyover to reach Mathura Road and the Ashram. Alternative Route 2: Travellers can also use the slip road adjacent to the Sarita Vihar flyover, turn left towards Okhla, go through Crown Plaza and Govindpuri, and then take a right turn at Modi Mill flyover to reach Mathura Road. Expect Heavy Congestion Traffic police officials added that the movement of heavy and commercial vehicles will be restricted on Mathura Road between Badarpur and the Sarita Vihar flyover. For the past week, traffic has already been disrupted in Kalindi Kunj, Mathura Road, and Sarita Vihar due to restrictions in place for the Kanwar Yatra. With the repair work now resuming, traffic congestion in these areas is expected to worsen over the next two weeks. First Published: July 25, 2025, 10:53 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
