Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan to assess arrangements for Bahuda Yatra (return car festival) of Lords of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, scheduled for July 24.
The meeting comes amid criticism following the deaths of three devotees during the July 16 Rath Yatra.
Emphasising that there should be no compromise on safety, law and order, or public security, Majhi directed officials to prioritise scientific crowd management and seamless real-time communication. He appealed to devotees and pilgrims to strictly adhere to safety protocols and cooperate with district authorities and police.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to deploy advanced tools for real-time crowd density monitoring, including integrating CCTV feeds from key locations directly into the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). This system would generate automated alerts to enable on-ground teams to swiftly clear congestion. Senior administrative and police officials will remain on high alert during critical rituals such as Pahandi, chariot pulling, Dakshini Moda, and Adapa Mandapa Darshan.
Despite challenges posed by continuous rain, adverse weather, heat, and humidity, Majhi expressed gratitude for the unwavering dedication shown by servitors, administrative staff, volunteers, and government employees. “Continuous rain, adverse weather, heat, and humidity failed to dampen the spirit of service,” he said, commending their team spirit and commitment to ensuring the smooth conduct of the festival so far.
Expressing deep grief over the loss of devotees due to health issues during the Rath Yatra, the Chief Minister extended condolences to the bereaved families. He announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and reaffirmed the state’s support.
During the meeting, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Padhee, presented a detailed overview of the festival logistics. Director General of Police Y B Khurania, DG Fire Services Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, and ADG (Modernisation) Soumendra Priyadarshi briefed attendees on security deployments and operational readiness for the remaining events, including Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha, and Niladri Bije.
Other senior officials present included Law and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, CM Advisor Prakash Mishra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and Development Commissioner D K Singh, who contributed inputs on ensuring flawless execution of the upcoming rituals.
With major events still ahead, Majhi directed all departments to maintain heightened focus on crowd management and coordination to ensure the grand festival concludes safely and successfully.
