Rath Yatra: NSG deployed, illegal drones removed, says Puri Collector

As lakhs of devotees gather in the holy town of Puri for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain on Friday assured that all preparations have been made for the smooth conduct of the grand festival.

Speaking to ANI, Swain said, “The Yatra route is already filled with devotees. All rituals related to the Rath Yatra will be conducted on time. Police forces were deployed since Thursday night to ensure crowd control and safety.” 

“All the rituals of the Holy Trinity are being performed on time. I am hopeful this year’s celebration will be performed smoothly,” he added.

National Security Guard (NSG) personnel have also been deployed to strengthen security arrangements along the Grand Road. Besides, personnel from other security agencies have been pressed into service.

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Highlighting airspace restrictions, Swain said, “Flying of drones over Shri Jagannath Temple and the Gundicha Temple is strictly prohibited. Yesterday, we intercepted and removed six to seven illegal drones.” 

He urged the public to cooperate with authorities to ensure a peaceful and sacred celebration.

The district administration has also set up a multi-layered security grid, including AI-powered CCTV cameras, bomb squads, drone monitoring, and marine police surveillance to manage the enormous crowd and safeguard the temple premises.