Puri, Jul 8: Odisha Police on Wednesday unveiled a multi-layered security blueprint for the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri, scheduled to begin on July 16. The nine-day festival, expected to draw lakhs of devotees, will be secured through coordinated surveillance from land, water, and air, a senior official said.

The plan, shared at a high-level coordination meeting chaired by DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, involves deployment of 12,000 police personnel alongside central forces including CRPF, BSF, RPF, and the Indian Coast Guard. The strategy focuses on crowd control, traffic management, and emergency response.

For aerial security, drones and anti-drone devices will be deployed, while the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Odisha Police Maritime Station will jointly patrol the sea. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will be stationed on ships to respond to emergencies.

Anti-sabotage checks will be intensified at sensitive locations, with bomb disposal squads and sniffer dog teams kept on high alert. Special Tactical Units (STU), NSG-trained Special Operations Group (SOG), and K-9 squads will be deployed near the temple.

To prevent stampedes, police have planned barricade arrangements, orderly carriages, and coordination with district administration for smooth darshan. Accommodation facilities for the deployed forces have also been arranged.
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The DGP directed strict action against habitual criminals targeting devotees in trains and stations. Photographs of identified offenders will be displayed at major public places and shared with the Railway Protection Force. A special drive has been ordered in Puri city to check hotels, lodges, monasteries, bus stands, and dharmshalas.

Officials said the blueprint aims to ensure a safe, orderly, and error-free Rath Yatra, combining traditional crowd management with modern technology.