Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police have sounded a high alert in the state following the explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday evening. Security has been strengthened at key locations including Bhubaneswar railway station and Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), and police have been instructed to conduct thorough checks at all entry and exit points, said Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.
In a bid to enhance vigilance, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has been deployed in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Police officials have been instructed to carry out searches in hotels and other public spaces, while keeping a close watch on suspicious activities, said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police Suresh Dev Datta Singh.
Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania assured that the state is fully prepared to prevent any untoward incident.
“We urge citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activity or unusual behavior immediately to the police control room,” he said.
Authorities in Sambalpur have also stepped up security. At Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River, police have been directed to secure all critical installations and take preventive measures to avoid any potential threats, according to Sambalpur SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo.
The Keonjhar police are maintaining tight security in the district, with SP Nitin Dagudu Kusalkar personally overseeing the arrangements.
The Delhi blast occurred near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort at around 6.52 pm. Reports suggest a slow-moving car halted near the gate and suddenly exploded. The vehicle was completely gutted, and the fire spread to nearby cars, causing significant damage. At least 10 people were killed, and more than two dozen sustained injuries in the explosion.
The Bhubaneswar and Cuttack police have called for heightened vigilance across public spaces, transport hubs, and hotels, while urging citizens to cooperate and report anything suspicious.
