Cuttack

Odisha Police is focusing on crowd management, traffic regulation and deployment of specialised security units for the annual Rath Yatra in Puri to prevent a recurrence of last year’s stampede in which three devotees lost their lives, officials said on Friday.

Director General of Police Y B Khurania chaired a high-level meeting at the state police headquarters in Cuttack on Thursday to finalise a special standard operating procedure (SOP) for the nine-day festival beginning July 16.

“All aspects — beginning from crowd management, vehicle parking, smooth movement of devotees, health facilities in the wake of the hot and humid weather conditions, to security arrangements — are part of the SOP, which would be strictly followed,” a senior official associated with Rath Yatra preparations said.

During the meeting, the DGP stressed the need for proper deployment of security vehicles near the temple and the engagement of K-9 squads, NSG-trained Special Operation Group personnel and Special Tactical Units to avoid stampede-like situations.

Officials said the issuance of cordon passes would be strictly regulated to ensure the smooth pulling of the chariots.

“Last year, there was a delay in pulling chariots as a huge crowd had entered the inner cordon. This time, the Puri district administration and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration have been requested to regulate the issuance of cordon passes,” the official said.

Khurania said special arrangements would also be made for orderly darshan of devotees visiting from across India and abroad to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

“Dealing with emergencies, accident management and ensuring quick coordination between various departments were discussed during the meeting,” he said.

According to temple tradition, several rituals will precede and follow the Rath Yatra. ‘Snan Purnima’ will be observed on June 29, ‘Navayuvan Darshan’ on July 14 and the Rath Yatra on July 16.

Other important rituals include ‘Hera Panchami’ on July 20, ‘Sandhya Darshan’ on July 23, ‘Bahuda Yatra’ on July 24, ‘Suna Besha’ on July 25 and ‘Niladri Bije’ on July 27.

“Since lakhs of devotees from all over the country and abroad are likely to assemble in Puri on all these occasions, it was decided in the meeting to make the security arrangements more extensive and effective,” Khurania said.

He added that eight additional parking areas have been identified to improve traffic management during the festival.

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Officials also said a special police team would be deployed in front of the chariots to ensure the smooth movement of the vehicles carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra along the Grand Road on Rath Yatra day.