Hindon dry; tankers set up for Chhat devotees

Lakhs of devotees participating in 'Chhat Puja' here would be unable to take the holy dip this time as irrigation department has stopped water-flow in Hindon river.
District administration officials said the river has dried up due to maintenance work being carried out in a canal in Uttarakhand, which supplies water to the river.
To tackle this problem, the administration has decided to provide water tankers so that devotees can observe the rituals of the puja on Friday and Saturday.
"Uttarakhand government has been taking up maintenance work in the canal, which was destroyed in the calamity in July. This canal supplies water to Hindon river via Haridawar.

"As there is maintenance work being carried out in the canal, Hindon has no water for bathing for Chhatt devotees this time," Ghaziabad city magistrate S P Gupta said.
On the direction of district magistrate, 12 water tankers have been installed near the river so that devotees can observe the puja rituals.
District administration officials said they will take care of tents, water supply, sanitation, deployment and medical facilities, mobile toilet vans among others.