Puri: In view of the massive influx of devotees expected during Panchuka and Kartika Purnima, the Puri Police have made elaborate security and crowd management arrangements to ensure smooth darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple and safety at Puri beach.
A high-level review meeting was held under the supervision of Central Range DIG Dr. Satyajit Naik and Puri SP Prateek Singh, where detailed deployment and coordination plans were finalised. As part of the security measures, 32 platoons of police force, 300 home guards, five additional ASPs, and several DSPs and ASIs will be deployed across key locations in Puri.
For orderly darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple, barricades have been installed from Bada Danda Market Chhak to the Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate). Multiple crowd control teams have been formed to manage the flow of devotees inside the temple and facilitate a smooth exit after darshan. A special “dragging team” will ensure devotees move out safely after offering prayers.
Following the recent stampede incident at Srikakulam’s Venkateshwara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, the Puri Police are on heightened alert. The DIG has instructed all officers and personnel to maintain discipline and courteous behaviour while interacting with devotees.
To prevent overcrowding, entry into the temple will be allowed only through the Singhadwar, while exit will be through the remaining three gates. Senior officers will remain on 24-hour duty inside the temple premises, with communication support ensured through VHF networks for any emergency response. Experienced police officers will also be stationed at the Natamandap to regulate movement within the sanctum complex.
At Puri beach, 20 platoons of police force along with lifeguards will be deployed for Kartika Purnima. Special focus has been placed on preventing stampede-like situations and ensuring the safety of pilgrims during the early morning rituals.
Traffic management has also been carefully planned. Two-wheelers will be parked near Market Chhak, while four-wheelers will be diverted to Jagannath Ballabh and Jail Road parking areas. Vehicles arriving from the Konark side will be parked at Talabania.
The No Vehicle Zone will extend from Digabareni Chhak on Puri Beach to Yatrika, with designated parking available at Digabareni and Yatrika lots. Around the temple, strict vehicular restrictions will remain in place. On Kartika Purnima day, the No Vehicle Zone will stretch from Medical Chhak to the Shree Jagannath Temple, the SP informed.
SP Prateek Singh assured that this year’s arrangements are stricter and more systematic than before, combining crowd regulation, beach safety, and traffic discipline to ensure a peaceful and spiritually fulfilling experience for all devotees.
