Khurda: Anticipating a massive footfall of devotees on the occasion of Pana Sankranti, the first day of the Odia calendar, the Khurda district administration on Monday clamped Section 144 at seven major temples to enforce social distancing norms in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The seven shrines where the prohibitory order has been clamped are Dhabalswar temple at Gurjang, Lokeshwarpur temple at Lokeshwarpur, Swapneswar temple at Samantrapur, Radha Ballav Mutt, Chandrasekhar temple near Paltan Padia and Ram Mandir at Gada Khurda and Kumarabasta.
Earlier, the Jagatsinghpur district administration had clamped Section 144 at Sarala temple and Bhagabati temple.
In Ganjam, the district administration has also clamped the prohibitory order on the famous Meru Yatra.
The prohibitory order will remain in force for the entire day on Monday.