Puri, Jul 7: With lakhs of devotees expected to converge on the pilgrim town for the annual Rath Yatra on July 16, Puri Police on Tuesday conducted a mega security mock drill at Puri Railway Station and other key locations to assess emergency preparedness and strengthen the overall security mechanism.
The large-scale exercise was aimed at testing the coordination and response capabilities of various security and emergency response agencies in the event of any security threat during the world-famous chariot festival.
The mock drill witnessed the participation of the Special Tactical Unit (STU), bomb disposal squads, dog squads, Fire Services personnel, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), medical teams and district police. The exercise simulated different emergency scenarios to evaluate response time, inter-agency coordination and operational efficiency.
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh said ensuring the safety and security of devotees remains the administration's highest priority.
"Security is our first priority. We are committed to providing better facilities while ensuring the safety of all devotees. Through this mock drill, we are creating different emergency scenarios to assess how effectively our teams can respond and protect people during critical situations," Singh said.
The SP said the exercise was designed to analyse real-time responses and identify areas requiring further improvement. He noted that the Special Tactical Unit is trained to handle critical situations, while bomb disposal squads, dog squads, Fire Services, ODRAF personnel, medical teams and district police are working in close coordination to ensure comprehensive security coverage.
To facilitate public assistance during the festival, police have also strengthened their support system for devotees. Singh said people can dial 112 in case of any emergency during the Rath Yatra.
He further informed that nearly 90 help desks-cum-information centres are being established at strategic locations across Puri. These centres will assist pilgrims with information, guidance and grievance redressal throughout the festival.
Highlighting the extensive planning behind the arrangements, Singh said preparations for the Rath Yatra have been underway since January 2026. The first high-level review meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary in January, followed by a series of regular coordination meetings involving various departments.
"Preparations are now in the final stage. This mock drill is another important step towards strengthening our security arrangements and ensuring a safe, secure and smooth Rath Yatra for all devotees," the SP added.
