Puri: With just three days to go for the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Odisha Police has intensified its preparations here, deploying more than 13,000 personnel and conducting a comprehensive mock drill to test emergency response, crowd management and coordination among different agencies.
The large-scale exercise was conducted as part of preparations to ensure the safety and security of lakhs of devotees expected to converge on the pilgrim city for the annual festival on July 16. According to Odisha Police, every possible measure is being taken to ensure a safe and secure Rath Yatra for devotees.
As part of the operational preparations, Puri Police also conducted a dummy car-dragging rehearsal at the RO Ground to strengthen coordination and assess readiness for the smooth conduct of the festival. Such rehearsals are aimed at preparing personnel for the complex crowd and operational challenges associated with the pulling of the three chariots during the grand event.
Safety arrangements have also been stepped up along the Puri coast, which attracts a large number of visitors during the festival. Puri Police conducted a special briefing for lifeguards at Puri Beach to strengthen coordination and preparedness for tourist safety during the Rath Yatra period.
The latest exercises follow a high-level security review chaired by Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania at the Puri Town Hall on July 11. During the meeting, the DGP said the police administration was fully prepared to ensure an incident-free, orderly and well-managed Rath Yatra.
With lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri, eight new parking facilities have been prepared at different locations across the city. The police have also installed cameras at key points from Uttara Square to Puri, along the Puri-Konark road and at several important intersections to strengthen traffic management and facilitate the movement of pilgrims.
Special emphasis has been placed on crowd control, orderly darshan and the safe pulling of the chariots. Experienced police officers have been assigned to Rath Yatra duty, while personnel have been instructed to treat devotees with patience, courtesy and a service-oriented approach.
Senior police officials have also stressed the need for seamless coordination in managing traffic, VIP movement, crowd control and security cordons. Personnel deployed for the festival have been directed to remain at their designated duty points even during adverse weather conditions and to maintain continuous communication with other agencies.
The multi-layered security arrangements reflect the scale of preparations for one of India’s largest religious gatherings. With the mock drill, operational rehearsal, lifeguard briefing, enhanced surveillance and deployment of over 13,000 police personnel, authorities are focusing on preparedness and coordination to ensure that devotees have a safe and orderly experience during Rath Yatra 2026.
