Comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place for the Kanwar Yatra, with a special focus on ensuring the safety and comfort of women devotees. For the first time, more than 10,000 women police personnel have been deployed along the pilgrimage route, including 8,541 head constables and 1,486 sub-inspectors.
Women now comprise nearly 15% of the total police force assigned to the Yatra. Authorities anticipate around 6 crore devotees to participate in the Yatra this year, including an estimated 60 to 70 lakh women. In response, law enforcement agencies have implemented a women centric security plan, placing female officers in key operational roles.
All women help desks along the route are being manned by trained women constables to assist devotees in case of emergencies or distress. In addition, more than 150 women help desks have been set up to provide real-time support, with dedicated Quick Response Teams (QRTs) that now include women personnel on every shift. Shakti Help Booths that are run with the support of women NGOs are being established at multiple points to offer counseling, health support, and emergency response services. These booths aim to create safe, accessible spaces for women pilgrims across the Yatra zones.
The security plan also includes 24x7 control rooms monitored by women officers, along with the deployment of drones, CCTV surveillance, and social media monitoring.
The highest deployment of women police personnel has been made in the Meerut zone, which includes districts like Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Hapur, and Ghaziabad. Officials emphasize that these initiatives aim to promote safe participation in religious events, particularly for women, by enhancing both visibility and responsiveness of the security apparatus throughout the pilgrimage.
