Heavy rush of devotees at Puri Srimandir; Police ensure smooth darshan after Srikakulam stampede

An unprecedented rush of devotees was witnessed at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri during the auspicious ‘Panchuka’, with lakhs of pilgrims thronging the holy city to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath on Sunday.

In the wake of the recent stampede in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha Police have intensified security and crowd management measures around the Srimandir premises to ensure the safety of devotees.

According to officials, special focus has been placed on managing the heavy footfall near the Nata Mandap and Jay-Vijay Dwara, where congestion was reported. A dedicated clearance team has been deployed to streamline the flow of pilgrims, allowing smooth and peaceful darshan (holy viewing) and guiding devotees out of the temple in an orderly manner.

Also Read: Queue system for darshan to begin at Puri Srimandir after Kartika month

In addition, plainclothes police officers have been stationed inside the temple complex to maintain vigilance and prevent untoward incidents. Devotee entry has been restricted to the Singhadwara (Lion’s Gate), while exit routes have been opened through the remaining four gates to prevent bottlenecks.

Notably, the much-anticipated queue system for darshan at Srimandir is set to be introduced after the holy month of Kartika. Meanwhile, temple officials have confirmed that the counting and documentation of valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar (treasury chamber) will also begin soon.