Junagadh: With the Girnar Lili Parikrama set to begin on November 2, the Junagadh district administration has issued an advisory urging pilgrims to postpone their plans due to the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall and poor road conditions along the Parikrama route.

District Collector Anil Ranavasiya has appealed to devotees not to arrive before October 31, citing safety concerns. The advisory follows unseasonal rains over the past four days, which have left several stretches of the Parikrama path muddy and waterlogged.

In a joint press briefing held on Wednesday evening, Collector Ranavasiya, DCF Akshay Joshi, and SP Subodh Odedara said that while preparations for the pilgrimage had been underway for the past one and a half months, the recent downpour has severely affected the infrastructure.

“The safety and security of the devotees is our top priority. The rains have washed away several repaired road segments and created slippery, unsafe conditions. Walking and vehicular movement have both become difficult,” the Collector said.

Authorities have restricted the entry of food stall operators and service providers to the Parikrama route until October 30. The administration is continuously monitoring the weather situation and receiving updates from within the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Officials have warned that heavy to very heavy rain is likely on October 30 and 31, and have deployed teams across vulnerable areas.

The Collector also appealed to senior citizens, children, and differently-abled devotees to avoid undertaking the pilgrimage until conditions improve. Once the weather stabilizes and the route dries, the administration will immediately deploy machinery to restore the Parikrama path, which is expected to be completed within two days.

So far, around 65 food plots have been approved along the Parikrama route. The administration has assured that as soon as the ground conditions become suitable, a fresh announcement regarding the commencement of the Parikrama will be made. DeshGujarat