Odisha Boosts Rath Yatra Preparations 7 Months Early to Avoid Last Year's Stampede Tragedy
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In a bid to ensure a smooth and safe Puri Rath Yatra, the Odisha government has kicked off preparations seven months ahead of schedule. The decision comes after three lives were lost in a stampede during the 2025 festival. Chief Secretary Anu Garg convened a preparatory meeting on Tuesday, urging officials to identify and rectify past mistakes. 'We want to avoid any chance of errors,' she said. 'Every department should draw up foolproof plans now.' The meeting, which included top officials from various departments, focused on crowd management, sanitation, water supply, infrastructure, security, and traffic management. Since last year's event saw 10 lakh participants, the administration aims to augment preparations accordingly. To prevent overcrowding, the temple will not distribute free food on the Grand Road, and parking spaces for 500 cars will be made available. The government has also instructed the Divisional Forest Officer to source 818 logs required for chariot-making, as 47 logs were already in store. Additionally, the DGP has been asked to minimize crowding near the chariot during the procession. The Rath Yatra is scheduled to take place on July 16, marking a significant improvement in the state's preparations compared to previous years.
