Puri: A drone video allegedly showing aerial visuals from inside the sacred Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri has gone viral on social media, raising serious concerns over temple security.
The footage, reportedly shared by “Ravi Telugu Traveler,” has sparked widespread criticism and demands for strict action against those responsible ¹.
This incident is not isolated, as drone flying over the temple has been reported multiple times in the past. Despite assurances from Puri Police about installing anti-drone systems, such incidents continue to surface. The government had announced plans for advanced anti-drone technology deployment, but the recurrence of viral footage indicates possible lapses in monitoring or enforcement.
The Puri Police and temple administration are verifying the footage’s authenticity and identify those involved.
According to Government, drones were illegally operated at least 10 times above and near the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the last 19 months.
Replying to a written question by BJD MLA P K Deb, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan infomred the Odisha assembly on Saturday, “Ten cases have been registered at Singhadwar police station in Puri after detection of drones being flown since June 2025. While final forms have been submitted in two cases, the investigation of the remaining eight cases is ongoing.”
According to the order issued by the Puri district administration, flying drones above and near the shrine was prohibited and treated as an offence.
