Puri, July 14: With just two days left for the Rath Yatra, Puri Police has intensified night security measures across the district, with blockades at key junctions to avert any untoward incident during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri.

A senior police official said that all police stations have been instructed to step up night blockades.

Police believe visible enforcement will not only deter offenders, but also instil confidence among the devotees visiting the pilgrim city witness the Rath Yatra festival.

Accordingly, police were conducting frequent ‘naka’ checks at night and set up blockades at key junctions and highways.

“To ensure the safety and security of the public, Puri Police is carrying out naka blocking and thorough vehicle checking at various locations across the district,” posted Puri District Police on ‘X’.

Nearly 12,000 police personnel, 19 senior IPS officers, and over 100 senior administrative officers have been deployed as Puri prepares to welcome lakhs of devotees from across the globe for the nine-day annual sojourn of Lord Jagannath starting July 16. Nearly three million devotees from India and abroad are expected to visit Puri during the festival.

On Monday, Puri police carried out a ‘dummy car pulling rehearsal’ to enhance operational readiness and coordination among the security personnel for safe and smooth conduct of the festival.

On July 8, Puri police also carried out an anti-terrorist mock drill involving the State police and various security agencies as part of a joint-integrated security exercise across the town to prevent any untoward incident during the grand festival. The exercise was conducted at Bagedia Dharmasala near Shree Jagannath Temple, and also at the railway station and Taj Hotel Puri.

The mock drill 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.