Haridwar, Feb. 6 -- The state forest department and police have intensified patrolling and surveillance along Kanwar routes in Haridwar, with the winter Kanwar pilgrimage being underway, officials aware of the matter said. The move comes amid growing concerns over the recent surge in human-wildlife conflict in the area, they said. The pilgrimage began on Monday and will conclude on February 15 (Maha Shivratri). The Mela administration has estimated around 2-2.5 million devotees (kanwariyas) to participate in the two-week-long yatra. Authorities said the influx of pilgrims is expected to increase significantly after February 5, when traffic diversions and movement restrictions come into effect. A key concern area is the Shyampur-Laldhang-Najibabad highway, a traditional route used by kanwariyas to enter Haridwar, which passes through dense forest terrain known for frequent wildlife movement. In the past week alone, sightings of elephants, leopards and bears have been reported in the Laldhang area adjacent to the Haridwar-Najibabad national highway, triggering fear among locals, commuters and pilgrims who mostly travel on foot with kanwars on their shoulders. Village head of Pilipadav Shashipal Singh said: "Earlier, it was mainly elephants, but recently leopard sightings have increased, and for the past month, bear movement in villages, along roadsides and even in agricultural fields has created panic. Kanwariyas walk close to forest stretches, so authorities must take concrete steps to ensure everyone's safety." Shyampur forest range officer Vinay Rathi said: "Bear movement has been reported in the area. We have directed farmers to guarded locations so that bears do not enter village habitations. Patrolling is being conducted, keeping in mind the movement of kanwariyas." On Sunday, a leopard attacked two farmers travelling on a motorcycle on the Pilipadav-Gaindhikhata stretch, leaving both injured. Wildlife experts said the Haridwar-Shyampur-Laldhang belt is a dense forest corridor, with forest cover on both sides of the national highway and the Ganga and Ganga Canal flowing through the region, making it conducive for animal movement....