Puri, July 13: The Odisha Police on Monday conducted a comprehensive chariot-pulling mock drill in Puri as part of its efforts for ensuring smooth conduct of the chariot pulling and foolproof security during the Rath Yatra.

The State Police and paramilitary forces participated in the mock drill conducted under the direct supervision of Eastern range DIG Pinak Mishra, who is in charge of security inside Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida and SP Prateek Singh at the Reserve Ground in Puri ahead of world famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

The mock drill aimed to ensure incident-free chariot pulling and enhance the safety of lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra to pull the three giant chariots.

“Ahead of #RathYatra2026, Odisha Police conducted a comprehensive mock drill in #Puri to test emergency response, crowd management, and inter-agency coordination,” Odisha Police posted on ‘X’.

More than 13,000 police personnel will be deployed in Puri for the annual grand festival of Lord Jagannath.

“With over 13,000 police personnel deployed, every measure is being taken to ensure a safe and secure festival for all devotees,” it said.

On Wednesday, Puri police also carried out an anti-terrorist mock drill as part of a joint-integrated security exercise across the town.

The exercise was conducted at Bagedia Dharmasala near Shree Jagannath Temple, and also at the railway station and Taj Hotel Puri.

The mock drill involving the State police and various security agencies aimed to enhance the safety of lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra, improve rapid response capabilities in emergencies and strengthen coordination among various security agencies and departments.

As part of the security measures, police have already started carrying out checks at various hotels and guest houses in Puri.