As the city of Puri prepares for the Bahuda Yatra, marking the return of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to their main temple, authorities have ramped up security measures to ensure a smooth and safe celebration.

The Bahuda Yatra, scheduled for Monday, signifies the conclusion of a nine-day sojourn for Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra. Devotees will pull three chariots carrying the deities from Sri Gundicha temple back to Sri Mandir, their primary abode.

“All our arrangements are in place. The police force, personnel, and officers have all taken their positions. We have checked all the arrangements, including CCTV, force deployment, traffic clearance, crowd control, and quadrant control. We have also conducted rehearsals,” said Odisha Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar on Monday.

The security detail is extensive, with 180 platoons of forces deployed. This includes armed police forces, three companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF), and two companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Traffic management remains a primary concern for the authorities. “This year, we’ve implemented one of the finest traffic arrangements, which has been widely appreciated,” Kumar added. He emphasized that the security arrangements have been upgraded to ensure the safety of devotees participating in the chariot-pulling ceremony.

The festivities are set to commence at 8 AM, with force deployment beginning at 6 AM. Authorities have restricted entry for regular devotees as part of the security protocol.

(Inputs from ANI)