Bhubaneswar, August 10: With the holy month of Shravan holding special religious significance for Hindu devotees, large numbers of Kanwariyas (Kaudia devotees) gathered at the Shri Lokanath Temple in Puri on Monday to offer prayers.

Ahead of the expected rush of devotees, Dr Satyajit Naik, IG, Central Range, along with the SP Puri, Additional SP and City DSP Puri, visited the temple to review the security and safety arrangements for the ongoing Kaudia pilgrimage.

The inspection focused on ensuring smooth crowd movement, maintaining law and order, and providing a safe and hassle-free experience for devotees.

Key Arrangements Reviewed

Crowd Management: Officials assessed the entry and exit points of the temple. Barricades have been installed at strategic locations to regulate the movement of devotees and facilitate smooth darshan.

Traffic Regulation: Special traffic management measures have been put in place to prevent congestion. NH patrolling is being carried out along three stretches between Uttara and Malatipatpur and Puri to ensure smooth movement of Kaudia yatris and other commuters.

Devotee Facilitation: Police personnel and officials have been directed to provide proper guidance and assistance to devotees. Arrangements have also been made for drinking water, medical aid and support for elderly and Divyang devotees.

Police Deployment: As many as 14 platoons of police personnel have been deployed across Puri city and the temple area to maintain law and order and ensure public safety. Senior police officers are supervising the arrangements round the clock.

The Odisha Police said it remains committed to ensuring a safe and peaceful Kaudia Yatra while respecting the religious sentiments and traditions associated with the pilgrimage.

Devotees have been urged to cooperate with police personnel, follow designated queues and approach the nearest police help desk for any assistance.