News from Puri

After taking into consideration the compliance affidavit filed by the Srimandir Committee, the apex court disposed of the petition filed by Mrinalini Padhi for better management of affairs at the 12th-century shrine.

BJP candidate Pramod Ray emerged victorious in the bypoll. In the keenly-contested bypoll, Ray defeated his nearest rival and BJD candidate Bhagirathi Senapati by 183 votes.

Of the two deceased, one has been identified as Arindam Das, and the identity of another deceased is yet to be ascertained. Both were residents of the Hooghly area in West Bengal. 

Two tourists from neighbouring West Bengal drowned while taking bath in the sea in Sector 13 near Swargadwar in Puri on Wednesday.

As per reports, the Amicus Curiae sought seven days from the court to study the affidavit that the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) furnished on Monday (May 1).

As per the Indian Railways, the train will start from Howrah at 6:10am and will be back to Howrah at 8:30pm with a two-minute stoppage at Kharagpur from 7:38am to 7:40 am in the up direction.

Addressing media in Bhubaneswar, BJP leader Pitambar Acharya said, “The government is claiming it has a duplicate key of Ratna Bhandar for the last five years. I have serious doubts about the government's claims. The government must clarify the public soon.”

Meanwhile, the environmentalists have blamed the illegal movement of trailers and the holding of eco-retreat at Ramachandi beach as the major reasons behind the behavioural changes.

“Under the influence of a prevailing low-level moist easterly from Bay of Bengal and middle and upper-tropospheric westerly trough, an increase in thunderstorm activity is very likely over districts of Odisha during next 4-5 days,” said IMD.

While hearing a petition filed by Puri-based social worker Dillip Baral seeking direction to make the report of Justice Raghubir Das Commission of Inquiry public, the court directed Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena and Law Secretary to submit response in connection with the matter.

As per the belief, like ordinary people, the Holy Trinity also suffers from the scorching heat of summer. In a bid to beat the heat, the sibling deities enjoy water sports at Narendra Puskarini during the 21-day-long Chandan Yatra.

The rituals began after the Biswakarma and other Maharana servitors brought the divine garland of consent (Agyan Mala) from Goddess Charchika in front of Srimandir before commencing the chariot construction as per the Vedic rituals at the Ratha Khala on the Bada Danda.

Forget smooth darshan arrangements at the 12th century shrine or provision of Mahaprasad at an affordable price at Ananda Bazaar, the Odisha government is yet to appoint a permanent chief administrator of the temple, which was also one of the directives issued by the apex court back in 2019.

Following the wreath laying ceremony, the body was taken to Sakhigopal by an army convoy. And after that a huge procession followed which was joined by thousands of locals.

The deceased has been identified as Debasis Biswal. Another soldier was seriously injured in the incident and was evacuated immediately to the Army Hospital at Rajouri.