Odisha: CCTVs to keep hawk’s eye on Puri town during Rath Yatra

Puri: The closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will keep a close vigil at sensitive areas in Puri town. As many as 155 platoons of police and 2, 400 home guards will be deployed during Rath Yatra, scheduled to begin on July 4 here, said a top police official today.

Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Rajendra Prasad Sharma along with other senior cops reviewed the security arrangements at Town Hall here for the world famous festival, expected to draw nearly 10 lakhs of devotees.

The top cop said security at sensitive places such as railway station, bus stops, parking zones, among others will be tightened. “The entire city will monitored through CCTVs and adequate security arrangements would be made to avoid any untoward incident,” Sharma told reporters after the meeting.

The DGP further informed that about 650 Sub-inspectors and 15 officers in the rank of SP will be given task to monitor the security arrangements for the festival. Besides, the NDRF and ODRAF teams will be kept ready to meet any emergency situations during the festival.

If required, we will also ask for the help of Navy, Coast Guard, CRPF personnel, the DGP said, adding elaborate security arrangements would be made during the major events of Rath Yatra, like Nabajauban Darshan, Sri Gundicha Yatra, Bahuda and Sunabesha.