Haryana expecting 10 lakh pilgrims during solar eclipse

CHANDIGARH - Haryana is expecting nearly 10 lakh people to visit the holy city of Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse Friday, officials said Thursday.

“About 10 lakh people are likely to visit Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse. Nineteen special trains and 300 additional buses have been arranged for the conveniences of the pilgrims coming to this city,” state Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said.

She said pilgrims have been visiting this holy place since ancient times during the eclipse to take a dip in the two ’sarovars’ (ponds) - Sannehit Sarovar and Brahmsarovar to attain salvation.

Duration of the solar eclipse Friday will be from 11.55 a.m. to 3.09 p.m.

Gulati said that adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of the pilgrims. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in the area and extensive checking of the people at entry points was being conducted, she said.

Meanwhile, 70 medical officers, along with para-medical staff and 18 ambulances, have been pressed into service to provide immediate medical care to any person needing it, she added.

Seeing this huge influx of pilgrims, the district administration has also made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and sufficient parking arrangements have been made here.