Drones spotted hovering over Puri Jagannath Temple

Security concerns at the revered Shree Jagannath Temple have deepened after drones were spotted flying repeatedly around the shrine for the last three days. The latest sighting took place on Sunday during the sacred ritual of tying the Patitapabana (holy flag) atop the temple.

 Eyewitnesses reported that the drone hovered above the temple for nearly 15–20 minutes before vanishing from sight. Devotees and sevayats expressed alarm, noting that such incidents have now become frequent, with drones hovering around the restricted zone for three consecutive days.

 The Shree Jagannath Temple, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India, is a strictly designated no-fly zone, making unauthorised aerial activity a serious breach. Security experts say the recurrence highlights loopholes in enforcement and poses risks both to safety and sanctity.

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 Local police and temple administration have begun an inquiry, reviewing CCTV footage and coordinating with technical teams to track the source of the drones. Devotees have urged stronger preventive measures to ensure such violations do not endanger the temple’s security.

 In a similar such incident, on 27th August 2025, a devotee from Kolkata was detained inside Puri Srimandir for allegedly using spectacles fitted with a hidden spy camera. Use of covert gadgets inside the sanctum and drone activity over the prohibited zone, have sparked serious concerns about lapses in temple security.

Authorities fear that such breaches not only pose risks to devotees’ safety but also compromise the sanctity and protection of the centuries-old heritage monument.