800 Odisha Pilgrims Depart for Varanasi, Ayodhya

A special train carrying 800 people from six Odisha districts left Rayagada railway station for a pilgrimage to Varanasi and Ayodhya under the state government’s senior citizen yatra programme.
The train was flagged off on International Senior Citizens Day by ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Nityanand Gond. Rayagada Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni presided over the launch event, which was attended by Zilla Parishad Chairperson Saraswati Majhi, SP Raj Prasad and other officials.
The fourth phase of the pilgrimage includes 775 senior citizens and 25 escort personnel from Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada.

IRCTC and the Odisha Tourism Department have jointly arranged the journey, with food, medical assistance and other essential facilities provided for the pilgrims.
Minister Gond said the programme reflects the state’s efforts to support senior citizens in fulfilling their long-standing spiritual aspirations despite financial constraints.