Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday directed senior officials to give greater emphasis on crowd management and seamless flow of information for the upcoming Bahuda Yatra of Lord Jagannath scheduled on July 24.
The Chief Minister also appealed to devotees and pilgrims to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the administration and police.
During a high-level review meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the Chief Minister was informed that all rituals of Lord Jagannath since the beginning of the Ratha Yatra have been conducted smoothly so far.
CM Majhi appreciated the dedication of servitors, officers, and employees for ensuring uninterrupted services despite continuous rainfall, adverse weather, heat, and humidity.
The Chief Minister was informed that the Puri district administration and police are maintaining a high level of alertness, with regular monitoring and smooth management of all arrangements. Senior officials are personally supervising key rituals, including the Pahandi, chariot pulling, Dakshina Moda, and Adapa Mandapa Darshan.
During the meeting, Majhi directed officials to place greater emphasis on crowd management and uninterrupted information flow. He advised using scientific methods to monitor crowd density and instructed that real-time inputs from CCTV cameras should be immediately integrated with the Integrated Command and Control Centre. This, he said, would enable swift intervention and resolution of any emerging issues.
The Chief Minister further stressed the need for meticulous planning as important rituals including the Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha, and Niladri Bije are scheduled in the coming days. He called upon all departments to ensure that every ritual is conducted smoothly and without any lapses.
Expressing grief over the death of two devotees due to health issues during the festival, the Chief Minister conveyed deep condolences to the bereaved families. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the deceased devotees.
During the meeting, Shree Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Padhee gave a detailed briefing on the management of the Ratha Yatra.
Director General of Police YB Khurania, Director General of Fire Services Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, and Additional Director General of Police (Modernization) Soumendra Priyadarshi briefed the Chief Minister on the police department’s preparedness and arrangements.
Law and Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and Development Commissioner DK Singh, among others, attended the meeting and shared their suggestions regarding the smooth conduct of the Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha.
