Puri: In the wake of chaos and stampedes during the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra, the state government has decided to hold a high-level meeting to discuss the issues and find solutions. The meeting, scheduled to be held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, will be attended by top officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP), Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Puri District Collector.
According to sources, the meeting aims to discuss and find solutions to the problems faced by devotees, including crowd management, darshan, and daily rituals to ensure a smooth and peaceful Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra in the coming year. The decision to hold the meeting comes after three devotees lost their lives in the stampede during this year’s Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra. The government and administrative machinery faced severe criticism for their handling of the situation.
According to Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Pinak Mishra, the meeting will focus on discussing the management of all festivals including Rath Yatra and daily rituals at the temple, as well as improving the darshan system. The Chief Secretary will provide guidance and direction after deliberating with key stakeholders. The meeting is expected to come up with concrete plans to improve crowd management and ensure a smooth darshan for devotees.
As informed by SP Pinak Mishra. the meeting will be attended by key officials including DGP, Chief Administrator of SJTA, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department and Puri Collector.
