Vehicular traffic on Puri stampede day was 4 times the volume of Rath Yatra's opening day
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Bhubaneswar: A stampede that claimed lives of three devotees outside Gundicha Temple in Puri on June 29 coincided with an unprecedented surge in vehicular traffic, which reached four times the volume witnessed during the Rath Yatra's opening day on June 27, official records reveal.
According to police, at least 25,000 vehicles arrived in the holy city on June 29, compared to roughly 6,000 vehicles on June 27. This massive influx created significant traffic snarls and other logistical challenges for the police.
Additional director general (ADG) Dayal Gangwar, who oversees Rath Yatra traffic management, said, "Historically, Rath Yatra's first day typically attracts between 5,000 and 6,000 vehicles, while the Suna Besha ceremony usually draws 15,000-20,000 vehicles.
However, this year festival's third-day turnout surpassed all previous records, primarily because it fell on a Sunday."
The unprecedented vehicle surge severely strained existing infrastructure as parking facilities were designed to accommodate only 6,000 four-wheelers, based on previous years' requirements.
"Upon noticing the extraordinary influx of vehicles and crowds, we immediately alerted Puri police, emphasizing the need for crowd management measures," Gangwar said.
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"While extensive traffic congestion and funnelling exercise resulted in considerable waiting time for commuters, we managed to prevent any major law and order disruptions," he added.
Ahead of the upcoming Bahuda Yatra on July 5 and Suna Besha on July 6, police have implemented comprehensive traffic management strategies, Gangwar said.
"We have taken the support from the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissionerate and Khurda district police.
A real-time alert system has been established to facilitate immediate communication between these jurisdictions, enabling swift traffic diversion when necessary to prevent flow of vehicles to Puri. Bulk SMSes will also be sent to devotees about traffic arrangements," Gangwar said.
According to DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh, "Traffic advisories for Bahuda and Suna Besha events have been issued. We have emphasized the importance of public compliance with the dynamic mobility plans, which are adjusted based on crowd density. We faced significant challenges during the first and third days of Rath Yatra, where unruly and uncooperative motorists refused to follow diversion instructions, resulting in extended traffic delays and inconvenience to others.
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