Puri: A youth climbed to the top of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and performed puja on the Anla Bedha on Monday, triggering panic and a major security lapse at the 12th-century shrine.
The youth, identified as Mahadev Gopinath Nayak of Saraipalli in Mahasamud district, Chhattisgarh, scaled the temple and reached the roof. He reportedly performed puja there before temple security and police were alerted.
Police and temple security personnel had a tough time bringing him down. After sustained efforts, the youth was safely brought down from the top.
An inquiry has been initiated both by police and the temple administration. Officials are probing how the youth managed to breach the security cordon and enter the restricted area, especially during the Khasapada ritual when there were no devotees present inside.
This is the third such incident in the last one year. Earlier in 2025, an elderly man from Bhadrak and another man from Uttar Pradesh had similarly climbed to the top of the temple.
Police said further investigation is underway.
