Zig-zag barricades to decongest Har-ki-Pauri

Sandeep Rawat

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 22

The Ardh Kumbh mela administration is devising ways to decongest and limit the influx of pilgrims at Brahma Kund, Har-ki-Pauri, considering the experience of Kumbh of 2010 when more than 1.50 crore people had arrived in Haridwar to take a dip in the Ganga on the ‘shahi snan’ on April 14.

As a majority of pilgrims want to take a dip in the Ganga at Har-ki-Pauri during festive baths, particularly in the morning, there is enormous rush at Har-ki-Pauri ghats which at times creates a stampede-like situation.

The mela police thus has the dual task of ensuring decongestion at Har-ki-Pauri by limiting the inflow of pilgrims as well as providing security. It has decided to erect zig-zag barricades, popularly known as ‘chakrayuh’, in the core Mela zone for the upcoming major festive bathes at Ardh Kumbh such as Somwati Amawasya (February 8), Maha Shivratri, Baisakhi, Shri Ram Navami and Chaitra Shukla Poornima.

The zig-zag barricades are being constructed speedily at Rodi (5), Belwala (2), Kangda Deep (5), Chandi Tapu Neel Dhara (5) and one in the Shaul area adjacent to Har-ki-Pauri. Shweta Chaubey, SP, Ardh Kumbh (Traffic), said the zig-zag barricades proved very useful during a heavy rush of pilgrims moving towards Har-ki-Pauri or at the ghat.

“It takes a pilgrim about one to one and a half hours to cover each zig-zag barricade. This is crucial for the mela administration as during this time we ensure the exit of the maximum number of pilgrims from Har-ki-Pauri and then gradually allow others to move through zig-zag barricades towards the Har-ki-Pauri Ganga ghats.

“Even during a stampede-like situation, we divert pilgrims moving towards Har-ki-Pauri directly through zig-zag barricades,” said Shweta. She added the zig-zag barricades were used only in an extreme situation when pilgrims arrive in a very large number.

Each zig zag barricade is made of two or three wooden logs of a specific measurement. They are erected on a strong base with 3 feet beneath and 5 feet above the ground level and two vertical wooden logs 6 feet apart.

The lower horizontal wooden rod is 1.5 feet from the ground level while the rest of the logs are placed one feet from each other to ensure strength as well as no space for a person to squeeze himself through the barricades.

The outer circle of barricades is the most strong with cross-shaped wooden logs put at every corner. “The zig-zag barricades are used as a last resort when management, control and diversion of pilgrims are not easily possible. During Kumbh in 2010, we had used zig-zag barricading effectively, which had reduced pressure at Har-ki-Pauri Ganga ghats and also avoided a stampede-like situation. We urge pilgrims to cooperate and have patience when they are diverted through zig-zag barricading. The method is adopted only during peak time and as soon as crowd pressure reduces, pilgrims are diverted to normal routes,” said Shweta.