Adityanath takes to air to inspect Kanwar routes in west UP districts

Ghaziabad: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath took a helicopter ride over several districts of western UP on Monday, including Ghaziabad, and inspected Kanwar Yatra routes

Ghaziabad: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath took a helicopter ride over several districts of western UP on Monday, including Ghaziabad, and inspected Kanwar Yatra routes. The office of the chief minister also tweeted a video of Adityanath in a chopper and waving to the kanwariyas.

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“The chief minister conducted an aerial inspection of different locations in Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar,” said Surendra Singh, divisional commissioner (Meerut), who was also in the chopper along with Adityanath.

Official sources estimated that about 10,000-15,000 kanwariyas passed through the Delhi-Meerut Road on Monday.

While the chief minister went for the aerial inspection, officials in Ghaziabad also greeted the kanwariyas. Officials in Ghaziabad city, Loni, Muradnagar and Modinagar also showered flower petals on the pilgrims and gifted national flags while marching with them.

As the ongoing Kanwar Yatra reaches its crescendo with pilgrims set to offer river Ganga water to Lord Shiva on Tuesday, officials of the Ghaziabad district administration have left no stone unturned to welcome hordes of devotees who are on way to their respective hometowns and villages.

Officials estimate that a total of three million pilgrims will pass Ghaziabad district by Wednesday morning, when the annual pilgrimage ends.

The annual yatra is being held after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The showering of petals on kanwariyas was witnessed in Modinagar, Muradnagar and Loni and the entire event was facilitated by the local bodies. We used streetlight repairing machines to reach a height and showered petals on the kanwariyas. Banquet hall owners gave their flower-showering machines for the purpose. We gave a warm reception to the pilgrims and made sure they were contended,” said Ritu Suhas, additional district magistrate, Ghaziabad.

Ghaziabad police officials were seen distributing the national flag to the kanwariyas. Many officials also marched along with Kanwariyas holding the Tricolour.

Police officials from Indirapuram also took out a march with the Kanwariyas, while holding the Tricolour.

“Police personnel showered petals and also marched with the kanwariyas. There were no such instructions but this was planned locally by police. We also commemorated ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (75 years of Independence)”, said a public relations officer of Ghaziabad senior superintendent of police (SSP) Muniraj G.

Ghaziabad police also deployed a strong force of about 2,500-3,000 personnel for Kanwar Yatra duties and kept an eye on anti-social elements and social media posts.

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage by devotees of Lord Shiva who bring Ganga water from holy places such as Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand.