Bhubaneswar: Police have drawn up elaborate plans to regulate the crowd during the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri by disseminating real‑time updates on the progress of rituals. Police said that deployment will be significantly higher than last year to ensure a hassle‑free Rath Yatra.Chairing a coordination meeting with servitors of the Jagannath Temple on Thursday, Puri police stressed the importance of timely communication — whether the rituals begin on schedule or are delayed — so that crowd movements can be streamlined accordingly. “Our meeting’s focus was to strengthen planning and ensure seamless arrangements for the upcoming Rath Yatra. Key discussions centred on smooth ‘darshan’, effective crowd management and better sevayat (servitor) coordination through cooperation,” Puri superintendent of police (SP) Prateek Singh said.The emphasis on flawless arrangements comes in the wake of last year’s stampede, which happened on the third day of the festival on June 29, when three devotees died in front of the chariots outside Gundicha Temple. Official sources had said the tragedy was triggered by a lack of coordination between temple authorities and police over the temporary closure of ‘darshan’ during the rituals on the chariots. Devotees swelled and waited for hours, catching cops unaware.Officials said this year’s crowd management hinges on the status of the rituals. “Unless devotees are informed about the ritual delays, if any, they will keep surging forward, which may trigger chaos and crowd-control difficulties. When ‘darshan’ remains briefly closed due to rituals, devotees should be alerted immediately so they can plan their visits accordingly. People should not be left waiting, as that leads to congregation, and law‑and‑order issues,” a senior police officer said.It was decided in the meeting that the police personnel will be given real‑time updates from servitors and temple administration so that those on the ground can act swiftly — blocking crowd flow at a distance to prevent convergence on the Grand Road or near the chariots. Traffic police will regulate vehicles, allowing staggered entry depending on crowd density.The Puri SP said technology will play a crucial role this year. “Adequate LED screens have been installed at public places in and around Puri to share updates on the rituals. We will also use social media platforms and a bulk SMS system to keep the devotees informed,” he said.
