Haridwar, July 19 -- The holy town of Haridwar is witnessing a huge influx of Kanwariyas as the Dak Kanwar phase of the ongoing Shravan Kanwar Mela began on Friday. According to figures accessed from the Mela Control Room, the total footfall of Kanwariyas-devotees of Lord Shiva-has crossed 14 million since the pilgrimage began on June 11. Officials say that the start of the Dak Kanwar phase, during which pilgrims arrive in vehicles to collect the sacred Ganga Jal, has led to a sharp spike in the influx. Devotees in saffron attire are thronging the town in large numbers, with major entry points like Chidiyapur-Shyampur on the Najibabad-Haridwar highway and Narsain, Roorkee-Laksar on the Delhi-Haridwar highway witnessing heavy movement throughout the day. Pilgrims are reaching the banks of the Ganga on foot as well as via a wide range of vehicles-mini-trucks, trucks, and specially modified open vehicles-all carrying elaborately decorated Kanwars, stereo systems, and cans to store Ganga water. HTC...