Puri To Turn Into ‘No Entry’ Zone For Rath Yatra; Details Here

Picture Credit: Santosh Das

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday said that no passenger train and private or public buses, other than those carrying personnel on government duty/police and vehicles on emergency services, will be allowed to enter Puri district from 9 pm on Monday till 2 pm on Wednesday.

The notification issued by the Office of Special Relief Commissioner said, “It is felt that restriction on movement of all buses and passenger trains to the district of Puri is required for smooth conduct of Rath Yatra on June 23 in view of the COVID-19
pandemic.”

The DGP, Abhay, had earlier announced a 17-hour shutdown in the entire district, starting 9 pm tonight.

“All entry points will be sealed and barring urgent matters, no one will be allowed to enter Puri town,” he had added.

Following the go-ahead from the Supreme Court to conduct Rath Yatra in Puri in the afternoon, the government has been making all preparations for the smooth conduct of the festival without any congregation of devotees and by adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.

Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy took stock of the situation in Puri along with the DGP earlier in the day. Chief Minister later chaired a preparatory meeting on Rath Yatra.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and the district administration had expressed confidence about holding the event successfully.