Puri: Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania on Friday appealed to elderly people, young children and patients to avoid visiting Puri in the coming days, citing the expected surge in devotees during the Rath Yatra festivities.
The appeal came after the second day of the annual Rath Yatra concluded peacefully, with the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra reaching Saradha Bali in front of the Shree Gundicha Temple. The chariots have been stationed there ahead of the ensuing rituals and public darshan.
The DGP said the pulling of the chariots was conducted without any untoward incident, attributing the smooth movement of the chariots to the extensive security and crowd management measures put in place by the administration and police.
Khurania said the focus of the administration will now shift to ensuring safe and orderly darshan of the deities at the Shree Gundicha Temple, where a large influx of devotees is expected over the next few days.
To manage the anticipated crowds, police will further strengthen barricading and queue management systems around the temple precincts. Additional measures are also being planned to regulate the movement of devotees and prevent overcrowding.
Appealing for public cooperation, the DGP advised elderly persons, small children and those suffering from illnesses to avoid entering heavily congested areas around the Shree Gundicha Temple, as the dense crowds may pose difficulties during the darshan period.
He urged devotees to follow police advisories and cooperate with security personnel to ensure the remaining Rath Yatra rituals are conducted safely and smoothly.
