Determined to avoid a repeat of last year’s tragic events, the Odisha government has taken the unusual step of launching its Rath Yatra preparations from seven months before. The decision follows a tragic 2025 event where a stampede claimed three lives and several others were injured, which also led to a formal apology from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who led the inquiry into last year's failings, chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday evening with top officials, including the DGP and the temple administration. While these preparatory sessions usually happen four months before the July 16 event, Garg insisted that the extra time is necessary to build a "zero-error" roadmap. "We do not want to take any chances," she told reporters, stressing that every department must identify previous lapses and fix them now.
The 2025 festival was marred not just by the stampede, but also by frustrating delays in pulling the chariots, which soured the experience for many of the 10 lakh devotees in attendance. To prevent a recurrence, the government is overhauling its crowd management strategy. An official noted that they can no longer rely on old ways as the crowds grow every year; instead, the plan must be "dynamic".
Specific changes are already being put into motion. In a bid to clear the Grand Road, the government has decided to ban free food distribution along the main stretch, as these stalls often become major congestion points. Additionally, the DGP has been tasked to ensure that the immediate area around the chariots is not overwhelmed by excessive number of people during the procession. Logistics for the chariots themselves are also underway. The temple needs 865 logs annually; with 47 already in stock, the Forest Department is currently sourcing the remaining 818. On the traffic front, new parking arrangements for at least 500 cars are being planned to ease the gridlock in the seaside town.
Also read: Subhadra Yojana funds to reach 4.57 lakh women: Odisha DCM
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