Bhubaneswar, July 18: Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania has advised elderly devotees and those with health issues to avoid traveling to Puri during the ongoing Rath Yatra, given the massive crowd expected.
In a media interaction, Khurania urged devotees to refrain from bringing children aged one and two years to witness the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, emphasizing that the advice was issued for their safety and health.
“The Grand Road is packed with devotees. Millions are present in Puri city, and a large number of people are arriving from different directions. The atmosphere of the festival is filled with excitement and joy,” he stated.
The DGP also requested pilgrims to stay updated with the advisories issued from time to time and to strictly follow the guidelines. He assured that extensive arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of this year’s Rath Yatra.
Meanwhile, the Puri district police have arrested 103 snatchers during a special anti-snatching operation and recovered 203 mobile phones stolen from devotees.
In light of the large influx of pilgrims, Puri police have launched special operations to prevent snatching, pickpocketing, and other property-related crimes.
Special police teams are monitoring key areas such as the Grand Road, Jagannath Temple complex, beach, bus stand, railway station, parking areas, and other crowded locations around the clock. Using CCTV cameras, modern technology, and intelligence, they are identifying and apprehending suspicious individuals promptly.
The police have urged all devotees and the general public to remain vigilant regarding their mobile phones, wallets, gold jewelry, and other valuables in crowded places.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
