Puri: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Tuesday reviewed security arrangements at Puri to ensure that the remaining rituals – ‘Bahuda Yatra’ , ‘Suna Besha’ and ‘Niladri Bije’ – during the annual sojourn of the Lords of Shree Jagannath Temple are completed smoothly.
In the meeting, the CM stressed accurate crowd estimation to manage the surge, especially during Suna Besha. “Due to favourable weather, a large number of devotees are expected to flock to the pilgrim town, especially for Suna Besha. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure security during this major gathering and remain prepared for any unforeseen incidents at all times,” he said.
He also advised for tighter control on passes to prevent overcrowding within the cordoned areas. He ordered for strategic positioning of additional police forces at critical points to ensure devotee safety and strict implementation of SoPs.
He also emphasised on close coordination with Maharana and Bhoi sevitors for chariot pulling.
The CM said that special attention should be given to traffic control and urged greater care to ensure the smooth execution of Mahaprabhu’s upcoming programmes. As thousands of people are expected to spend time at the beach, he instructed the fire department to work in coordination with the police to ensure their safety.
Majhi advised the officials to keep a close watch on critical locations, including Puri-Bhubaneswar road, the beach, railway station, bus stand, and temple premises, and to carry out their duties diligently. “This is not just a duty–it is a privilege and a matter of fortune. Serve with complete dedication and teamwork,” he added.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arvind Padhi provided details on the smooth completion of Lord’s rituals and arrangements made for devotees to visit Adapa Mandap.
Additional Director General of Police, Soumendra Priyadarshi, presented details of traffic control measures and steps taken until the conclusion of the Rath Yatra.
The meeting was attended by Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Director General of Police Y B Khurania and Commissioner and Secretary in-charge of Rath Yatra Arvind Agrawal.
The Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra, Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattanayak, Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra, Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mahapatra, Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department Satyabrata Sahu, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswata Mishra, Director General of Fire Services Sudhanshu Sarangi, Additional Director General of Police Dayal Mangwar, Puri Collector Chanchal Rana and Puri SP Pinak Mishra were also present.
Meanwhile, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg has started her investigation into the Sunday stampede at Saradhabali near Shree Gundicha Temple, which claimed lives of three devotees. She interacted with SJTA chief administrator, Puri collector and SP, besides other officials and temple servitors. She has been asked to submit a report within a month.
