Bhubaneswar/Puri: In preparation for the upcoming Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath on July 16, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan convened an important coordination meeting with servitors and administrative officials in Bhubaneswar to ensure that all festival arrangements are executed smoothly and efficiently.
During a media briefing, the minister emphasized the necessity of strong collaboration between the servitors (sebayats) of the Shree Jagannath Temple and the administration. “Today’s discussions focused on maintaining coordination between servitors and the administration to ensure that all activities related to Rath Yatra are conducted in a disciplined and orderly fashion. We are implementing measures based on the suggestions of the Daitapati Nijog,” he stated.
Harichandan refuted claims of any conflicts among the sevayats. “While there may have been differing opinions, the Daitapati Nijog is a highly disciplined organization. The sevayats strictly follow every decision made by the Nijog and perform their duties accordingly. Their unity and cohesion are evident year after year during the Rath Yatra, and they should not be held responsible for any disruptions during the festival,” the minister asserted.
This meeting is part of broader preparations by the state government and police to ensure the world-renowned chariot festival is incident-free, particularly following last year’s tragic stampede near Gundicha Temple that resulted in three fatalities.
Enhanced Medical and Emergency Preparedness
Puri police have devised a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to manage medical emergencies during the festival, which frequently sees devotees fainting due to the intense summer heat, humidity, and large crowds along the Bada Danda (Grand Road).
Key measures include:
- Establishing eight temporary hospitals.
- Setting up approximately 35 first-aid centers.
- Creating dedicated evacuation points throughout the town for rapid rescue in case of stampede-like situations or other emergencies.
Security and Crowd Management Focus
Odisha DGP Y B Khurania led a high-level meeting on Thursday and issued stringent directives for comprehensive security measures. ADG Saumyendra Priyadarsi has been appointed as the overall in-charge of security during the festival.
Major decisions include:
- Deploying a special clearance party ahead of the chariots of the sibling deities (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra) to ensure smooth movement.
- Mobilizing specialized teams in crowded areas to maintain public order.
- Installing at least 65 LED screens across the city for real-time updates on crowd density near the temple and other critical areas.
- Intensifying actions against habitual offenders and anti-social elements, including notorious criminals from other states.
- Displaying images of potential troublemakers on LED screens at railway stations and bus stands.
- Creating “rogues’ galleries” at key police stations.
- Adding more CCTV cameras and increasing patrolling around Jagannath Temple and Puri beach.
Plans are also in place to relocate food stalls and NGO distribution points to less congested areas, limit cultural performances and unauthorized vehicles near the chariots, and permit only medical, fire, and evacuation teams in front of the chariots. New parking facilities are being developed to alleviate traffic congestion.
Emphasizing devotee safety amid expectations of large crowds, the DGP underscored that effective crowd management, emergency response, and inter-departmental coordination are top priorities.
