MEERUT, Aug. 9 -- Lord Shiva devotees participating in the Kanwar Yatra were greeted with showers of flowers from helicopters on Sunday as senior administrative and police officials conducted aerial surveys of major Kanwar routes, religious sites and security arrangements across the region.

In Bulandshahr, district magistrate Kumar Harsh and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dinesh Kumar Singh flew in a helicopter from Hapur and conducted an aerial survey of various parts of the district, showering flowers on Kanwariyas carrying holy Ganga water.

The gesture sparked enthusiasm among the devotees, with major Kanwar routes and religious sites echoing with chants of "Har Har Mahadev" and "Jai Shiv Shambhu".

The flower shower was carri...