Odisha Begins Early Preparations for Puri Rath Yatra

The Odisha government has begun preparations for the annual Puri Rath Yatra seven months in advance, aiming to ensure zero-error arrangements for the mega festival following last year’s stampede that claimed three lives, officials said on Wednesday.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level preparatory meeting on Tuesday evening, during which she directed all concerned departments to thoroughly review the shortcomings of previous Rath Yatras and put in place corrective measures well ahead of the festival.

“I have urged all the departments to identify errors from the Rath Yatra of previous years and implement corrective measures. Seven months are left for the mega event, during which one can make error-free planning,” Garg told reporters.

The early start to preparations reflects the state government’s focus on crowd management, safety protocols and coordinated planning among departments to prevent any recurrence of last year’s tragic incident and ensure a smooth and safe conduct of one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.