DEHRADUN: As many as six Kanwariyas  of the famed Kanwar Yatra, swept away in the gushing waters of the Holy Ganga at the Kangra Ghat, were rescued by the Jal Jawans of the Uttarakhand police rescue  team in holy town of  Haridwar today morning.

Enchanting “Bam Bam Bhole” thousands of Kanwariyas from across India are converging to the holy city of Haridwar for taking a holy dip in the surging holy Ganga. The six yatris were swept away by the strong gush of water. 

As soon as they spotted the drowning Kanwariyas,  the Gotakhor of Jal police plunged into the rushing river and fished them out from the river, said the Uttarakhand police officials.

According to DPG Ashok Kumar, the rescue team of 100 jawans have rescued over 26 Kanwraryas from drowning for the last seven days.   "We are proud of our jawans for doing yeomen service to the  public", he added. 

District administration has deployed a team of 100 jawans at 20 different spots along the holy pilgrimage Centre of Haridwar for seeing the smooth passage of the Kanwar Yatra  and for the safety  of the yatris.

These jawans are from SDRF, Jal Police and Emergency Response company.    

The Kanwar Yatra is in full swing these days with thousands of Kanwariyas Shiv Bhakt making a beeline for Haridwar to    take the holy water of the Ma Ganga  back homes.

Chief Minister Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the Kanwar yatris at different places on their arrival in the holy city. He washed the feet of the Kanwariyas as symbolizing  faith in the Dev Bhoomi.

Dhami said like Kumbh,   it is for the first time the state government has made budget provision for the Kanwar yatra 

DGP said the police have deployed round the clock vigil for the safety and  smooth  passage of the yatra from Railway stations to all the public places.

The bomb disposal squads are also deployed to meet any emergency situation in the  state, he added.