Bhubaneswar: A drone was spotted flying over the revered Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, a designated no-fly zone, in a blatant violation of security protocols.
The incident, captured in a viral video, marks yet another breach of the temple’s restricted airspace over the 12th-century shrine.
The viral footage, posted on an Instagram account under the name “Story Boy Naru Gopal” on May 30, shows a drone hovering close to the temple, capturing clear visuals of a Chunara Sevak climbing the high structure to hoist the sacred flag atop the Nilachakra.
The sevak is seen acknowledging the drone with folded hands, a gesture that has further fuelled public discourse about the audacity of the violation. The video, recorded in front of hundreds of devotees, has since garnered significant attention on social media.
Despite the temple premises being strictly designated as a no-fly zone by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and local authorities, drones have repeatedly breached this restriction.
This is not an isolated incident—similar violations have been reported in recent years, including cases in January and May 2025, where unauthorized drones were spotted over the temple. In response to earlier incidents, the Odisha government announced plans to install anti-drone technology to bolster security.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that the Government is giving utmost priority to the safety of the temple. The process for installing anti-drone technology has started. The plan will be executed very soon, he added.
