Puri, May 22: Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania has directed senior officials to prepare a strong crowd-management plan ahead of the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri on July 16. The instructions came during a preparatory meeting held on Thursday in Cuttack, with special emphasis on preventing a repeat of last year’s stampede that claimed three lives on June 29 outside Gundicha Temple.

Chairing the meeting, Khurania highlighted the importance of effective emergency handling, disaster management, and seamless inter-departmental coordination. “With lakhs of devotees expected, their safety is our priority. Crowd management, security arrangements, and traffic regulation will remain our key focus areas,” he said.

Officials revealed that the crowd-control plan for Grand Road will incorporate best practices from previous Rath Yatras and other large-scale gatherings. Dance and cultural troupes will be restricted from performing near the chariots, while only medical teams, fire service personnel, and evacuation volunteers will be allowed in front of the chariots. Trucks, including those used previously for sprinkling water, will be barred from crowded zones.

Khurania also instructed officers to identify vulnerable spots along Grand Road and its connecting bylanes, which are prone to heavy crowd pressure. Special drives against criminals and extensive inspections of hotels and other accommodations in Puri will be conducted. Patrolling will be intensified around Jagannath Temple and Puri beach to prevent incidents.

To tackle anti-social elements such as pickpockets and thieves from outside the state, officers have been asked to remain vigilant. Photographs of habitual offenders may be displayed at railway stations and bus stands, and “rogues’ galleries” could be set up at railway police stations in Puri and Bhubaneswar.

Additionally, new CCTV cameras and parking facilities have been installed in Puri and its outskirts to strengthen security and ensure smooth traffic management during the festival.