Senior Police Officials Conduct Security Briefing, Rehearsal Inside Srimandir Ahead of Rath Yatra 2026

Puri: With just days remaining for the world-famous Rath Yatra, senior police officials on Saturday carried out a comprehensive briefing and on-the-spot rehearsal inside the Shree Jagannath Temple to review security arrangements and ensure seamless coordination for the annual festival.

The review was led by ADGP (Law & Order) Soumendra Priyadarshi, who is overseeing the overall security arrangements for Rath Yatra 2026, along with IG (Central Range) Satyajit Naik and Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh. Senior police officers, temple administration officials and security personnel also participated in the exercise.

During the rehearsal, officials inspected the temple premises and assessed deployment plans, crowd management strategies, communication systems and emergency response mechanisms to ensure the smooth conduct of rituals and effective handling of the massive influx of devotees expected during the festival.

The field-level review focused on strengthening coordination among different security agencies, maintaining discipline during ceremonial events and identifying critical areas requiring special attention. Officials also reviewed operational preparedness to facilitate uninterrupted rituals while ensuring the safety and convenience of pilgrims.

The briefing forms part of Odisha Police’s extensive security preparations for Rath Yatra 2026. This year, the state has planned a multi-layered security arrangement involving thousands of police personnel, senior IPS officers, AI-enabled surveillance and advanced crowd management measures to ensure an incident-free festival.