Odisha Police Deploy Drones, AI Cameras to Manage Suna Besha Crowd in Puri

As lakhs of devotees thronged Puri on Sunday to witness the grand ‘Suna Besha’ of Lord Jagannath and his siblings atop their chariots, the Odisha Police intensified its crowd and traffic management efforts using advanced technologies like drones and AI-enabled surveillance cameras.

The ‘Suna Besha’, a sacred ritual where the deities are adorned in gold ornaments, draws massive footfall every year. This year, the expected turnout is estimated at over 15 lakh devotees, making it one of the biggest religious gatherings in the state.

To ensure the safety and smooth movement of the crowd, Additional Director General (Traffic) Dayal Gangwar stated that real-time monitoring through drones and AI cameras has been deployed at strategic locations in and around the Grand Road (Bada Danda).

“The inflow of vehicles from Bhubaneswar to Puri is increasing steadily. To ease congestion, we are implementing dynamic diversions to minimize wait time, especially at key entry points like Batgaon and Maltipatpur,” Gangwar said. “Currently, the waiting time at Batgaon is about 20 to 30 minutes. We appeal to all devotees to strictly follow the traffic advisories and cooperate with police personnel,” he added.

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan also addressed the situation, saying, “Around 2 lakh people had darshan of the deities last night alone. We are expecting a turnout of about 15 lakh today. The administration is on high alert and all necessary measures have been taken to ensure a peaceful and safe environment.”

The police and district administration have also advised devotees to plan their travel in advance and avoid last-minute rushes. Medical camps, help desks, and drinking water facilities have been set up across the town to cater to pilgrims.

With the combination of traditional vigilance and modern technology, authorities hope to ensure an incident-free and spiritually fulfilling experience for the multitude of devotees attending this auspicious occasion.