Security tightened at Jagannath Temple after Pahalgam terror attack; repairs paused for Rath Yatra
in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, the Odisha government has heightened security arrangements at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Puri SP Vinit Agarwal informed the media on Saturday that a commandant, two deputy commandants, and three assistant commandants, will be engaged to oversee the security of the temple.
A directive issued by the state police headquarters in Cuttack asked the officers concerned to report for duty on April 28. The officers would be on deputation for three years, it stated.
'Apart from the commandants, eight inspectors, 31 sub-inspectors, and 24 assistant sub-inspectors would be posted to strengthen security, maintain law and order, and streamline the queue system darshan for the devotees,' the SP said, adding that police will also be deployed at the Parikrama corridor, Gundicha and Mausima temples.
'Officers having experience in anti-terrorist operations would be posted on deputation from the armed police battalion,' Agarwal said.
Though the state had resolved to post 1,083 police personnel for the Srimandir, it is likely to increase to 1,200, he said, adding that the recruitment process of personnel for this special battalion has been initiated.
Meanwhile, the ongoing repair and conservation work of both the Ratna Bhandars of the Shree Jagannath Temple will be suspended from April 29 to June 27 to facilitate the observance of several key rituals in the run-up to the Rath Yatra, said chief administrator of Sri Jagannath temple administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee.
Padhee chaired a meeting on the conservation of the Ratna Bhandars, in which Chhatisha Nijog president Janardan Pattajoshi, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) head of conservation work Chittranjan Das, temple officials, and senior servitors took part.
The ASI officials informed that the repair work would continue after the annual Rath Yatra. Padhee said that the restoration of the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar is nearly complete, with granite slabs being installed on the floor. In the Bahar Ratna Bhandar, nine steel box beams have already been fixed, with five more scheduled to be installed. Old corroded iron clamps have been replaced with new ones, he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Rath committee members register on citizen reporter platform
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Members of the Rath Yatra committees on Saturday engaged in a discussion about TOI's Citizen Reporter initiative here, with the aim to familiarise themselves with the platform's functionality and its potential impact on local governance. The members expressed keen interest in the digital platform, which empowers citizens to report local issues directly on the website and mobile app. The interactive session highlighted the app's features, resulting in several committee members registering as citizen reporters. Satyabrata Dash from Kolathia Jagannath Temple committee said, "While people have always sought media attention for community issues, TOI's Citizen Reporter provides a direct channel to voice concerns and ensure they reach govt authorities. This initiative will immensely help us." The initiative has struck a chord with residents in dealing with persistent civic challenges, offering them a proactive role in addressing community issues. "The move towards citizen journalism reflects a broader trend where individuals transition from being passive news consumers to active contributors," said Dash. The platform is designed to bridge the gap between the public and authorities, ensuring that local concerns are not only heard but also addressed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her Now The Latest Article Undo "By enabling direct reporting, the initiative fosters a sense of community involvement and accountability. As more individuals embrace this form of journalism, it is expected to lead to more transparent and responsive governance," said Sakti Prasad Sahu from Badhei Banka Rath Yatra committee, Old Town. Sahu said there are several civic issues in Old Town area. "We can post the pictures and videos with required information on It is a good platform to report our own stories. My friends have also shown interest in using the interface," he added. The session concluded with a renewed commitment from the members to utilise the platform actively, marking a significant step towards enhanced civic engagement in the capital city. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
Odisha govt to reconstitute Jagannath temple management panel before Ratna Bhandar inventory: Min
'We will soon reconstitute the SJTMC, which will permit to carry out the inventory of Lord Jagannath's valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar. The valuables, including gold, diamonds and other items, are currently stored in a temporary strong room within the temple premises,' Harichandan told reporters. This was said by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, while replying to queries on the delay in initiating the inventory of Ratna Bhandar valuables. Bhubaneswar, Aug 1 (PTI) The Odisha government on Friday said it would soon reconstitute the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), paving the way for a long-pending inventory of Lord Jagannath's valuables in the presence of representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The minister informed that the RBI has nominated two experts to participate in the much-awaited inventory process of the temple's treasure trove. 'Once the items are moved from the strong rooms to the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar, we will notify the RBI of the schedule. The inventory will then be conducted in the presence of the nominated officials,' the minister added. The last full inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was carried out 46 years ago in 1978. The SJTMC plays a key role in overseeing the affairs of the 12th-century shrine. The committee, constituted under the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, has 18 members out of which 10 are nominated by the government. The remaining include ex-officio members, with Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb serving as the permanent chairperson. However, the state government has not nominated members for the last 10 months. The term of the previous members was over on September 2, 2024. 'Thereafter, the government has not made the nominations. Now that the Rath Yatra is over, we are hoping the government will soon nominate members to the SJTMC,' Gajapati Maharaj recently told PTI. 'It is necessary in the interest of the smooth and efficient management of the affairs of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri,' he added. PTI AAM AAM MNB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Development commissioner Garg submits Puri stampede probe report to CM Majhi
BHUBANESWAR: Development commissioner Anu Garg on Thursday submitted the inquiry report on the stampede near Gundicha temple during Rath Yatra in Puri to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The report comes after a month-long investigation into the tragic incident that resulted in the loss of three lives including two women devotees. The chief minister ordered an administrative inquiry into incident on June 30, hours after the stampede occurred in the wee hours of the day due to massive crowding at the Gundicha temple for darshan of Lord Jagannath. The inquiry led by Garg was asked to submit a report within a month. She was tasked to find out the reason behind the incident and suggest measures that can be taken so that such mishaps do not repeat in future. While findings of the inquiry has not been revealed, it is expected that the report may have pointed to significant security lapses, lack of coordination of temple administration with servitors on fixing timings for darshan and lapses on the part of the district administration in crowd management, which led to the mishap. The state government is likely to take further action based on the findings and recommendations outlined in the report.
