A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Devprayag, Uttarakhand, where a Kanwad pilgrim lost his life after being swept away by the fierce currents of the Ganga river. A video capturing the harrowing moments has gone viral on social media, showing the victim's older brother standing helplessly on the riverbank and crying out for help. During the incident that took place on Saturday, the distraught brother could be heard pleading desperately, offering money to anyone who could save his sibling. Despite desperate cries and frantic efforts by onlookers, the rushing waters proved too strong, and the pilgrim could not be rescued.
Road Accidents Claim More Lives During Pilgrimage
Alongside the drowning incident, several other fatal accidents have been reported on national highways as millions of devotees participate in the ongoing Kanwar Yatra. Late Sunday evening, a high-speed collision occurred between a Bullet motorcycle and another bike near the Rimjhim Dhaba on the Haridwar-Manglaur bypass. Two pilgrims riding the bike, identified as 35-year-old Sandeep Malik and 40-year-old Vipin, both hailing from Shamli, sustained critical injuries. They were rushed to the government hospital in Roorkee, where attending doctors pronounced both of them dead. In a separate minor mishap nearby, a scooter rider was also injured following a collision with a car.
Unidentified Victims and Police Investigation
In another tragic event late Saturday night near the Narson Shiva temple, an unidentified pilgrim aged between 25 and 30 years was hit by an unknown vehicle. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Roorkee, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Authorities recovered 6110 rupees and a mobile phone from his bag, but due to the phone being switched off, his identity could not be immediately established. Furthermore, on Sunday morning, a 45-year-old pilgrim was struck and killed by an unidentified vehicle in Libberheri. He was subsequently identified as a resident of Manga in Baraut, Uttar Pradesh, with police scanning local CCTV footage to investigate the crash. Rural Superintendent of Police Shekhar Chandra Suyal confirmed that families of the two pilgrims killed in the Haridwar-Manglaur bypass crash have been duly informed.
Security Measures and Gangotri Dham Preparations
To ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the Shravan Kanwar Mela-2026, senior police officials are personally monitoring the situation from control rooms and ground patrols. Authorities are utilizing CCTV networks to oversee key routes, sensitive zones, parking areas, and congested locations across the fairgrounds, while also deploying drones for aerial monitoring. Officials have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance and keep quick response teams on immediate standby for any emergency situations. Meanwhile, with thousands of Shiva devotees thronging Gangotri Dham to collect holy water for the upcoming Shivratri Jalabhishek on August 11, local police leadership has taken direct charge of managing traffic and security arrangements in the region.
