Puri, Jan 14:In an effort to avoid past mistakes and ensure a smooth and safe Rath Yatra festival, the Odisha government has started its preparations seven months ahead of the event, following a stampede during last year's festival that resulted in three deaths. Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a preparatory meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss strategies for this year’s event, focusing on lessons learned from the previous year’s lapses.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Garg said, “I have urged all departments to identify errors from previous Rath Yatras and implement corrective measures. With seven months remaining, we have ample time for error-free planning.”
Key officials attending the meeting included DGP YB Khurania, DG of Fire Services Sudhansu Sarangi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Arabinda Padhee, Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida, and Puri SP Prateek Singh.
Typically, a state-level preparatory meeting for the Rath Yatra is held four months prior to the event. However, this year, the government decided to begin preparations much earlier, with Rath Yatra scheduled for July 16. Garg emphasized that this early meeting was essential to avoid taking any chances and to ensure that every department develops foolproof plans for the mega event.
The Rath Yatra of 2025 was marred by a tragic stampede that led to the deaths of three people and injuries to several others. Delays in the chariot procession also caused frustration among devotees, resulting in widespread public outcry. The government’s failure to manage the event smoothly prompted Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to issue a public apology.
In this year’s meeting, officials focused on improving crowd management, sanitation, water supply, infrastructure, security, and traffic control. "As the crowd grows every year, the preparations must scale accordingly. We cannot apply the same management formula as before; the approach must be dynamic and adaptable,” said one official. Last year’s Rath Yatra saw around 10 lakh attendees, highlighting the need for robust management systems.
In terms of logistics, the administration has already secured 47 logs from last year for chariot construction, with plans to source the remaining 818 logs. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Nayagarh is tasked with coordinating the procurement of these logs.
Furthermore, Garg, who led the inquiry into the 2025 stampede, has instructed the DGP to implement measures to prevent crowding near the chariot during the procession. Another key decision made during the meeting was to restrict free food distribution along the Grand Road to avoid crowd congestion. Parking spaces for around 500 cars will also be designated to ensure smoother traffic management.
With these early and comprehensive preparations, the Odisha government aims to ensure that this year’s Rath Yatra is a safe, organized, and memorable event for all devotees.
