Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Uttarakhand Enforces 13-Foot Kanwar Height Limit
The Uttarakhand Police are making sure that the decorated wooden structures called Kanwars that people carry on their backs are not taller than 13 feet.
They started checking them at the border with Uttar Pradesh before the big pilgrimage that started on July 30.
If a Kanwar is too tall, the police send it back.
They did this to keep everyone safe and to make traffic flow better.
After two people died when iron beams fell on them in Haridwar, the police also filed a case against the highway authority for not keeping the road safe.
Uttarakhand Police are turning back vehicle‑borne Kanwars exceeding 13 feet at Uttar Pradesh border checkpoints.
The 13‑foot height limit was announced before the pilgrimage began on July 30.
Senior Superintendent Navneet Singh Bhullar said oversized Kanwars will not be allowed into the state.
Twelve oversized Kanwars were sent back from the Narsan border on Sunday.
Police registered a case against NHAI officials after two Kanwariyas died when iron girders collapsed under an under‑construction flyover in Haridwar.
- Who
- Uttarakhand Police, Senior Superintendent Navneet Singh Bhullar, National Highways Authority of India officials
- What
- Enforced a 13‑foot height limit on vehicle‑borne Kanwars, turned back oversized ones, and registered a case against NHAI officials after a fatal collapse
- When
- During the Shravan Kanwar Mela, which began on July 30
- Where
- Uttarakhand state, Uttar Pradesh border checkpoints, Narsan border, Haridwar
- Why
- To ensure safety of Kanwariyas, passers‑by, and traffic management
- Height limit
- 13 feet
- Event
- Shravan Kanwar Mela
- Enforcement start date
- July 30
- Police officer
- Navneet Singh Bhullar
- Location of incident
- Haridwar flyover collapse