Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has assigned senior IAS officer Aravind Agrawal to oversee the Rath Yatra festival in Puri.
Agrawal has been given the additional responsibility, in addition to his current position as Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Government in the Higher Education Department, with the additional charge of Special Secretary to the Government in the Sports and Youth Services Department.
Agrawal will be responsible for the overall supervision of the festival, alongside his existing duties. This decision aims to ensure the smooth conduct of the mega festival.
The government’s decision comes after a stampede situation near the Gundicha temple claimed the lives of three devotees, including two women, and injured at least six others.
Following the incident, the government also ordered the immediate transfer of the Puri Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP).
