Ahead of Rath Yatra, DGP reviews security
Puri: Ahead of the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, DGP Y B Khurania on Monday reviewed security arrangements here and rolled out a riot-control vehicle 'Vajra' for the protection of the Shree Jagannath Temple in the coastal town, officials said. He inspected the 'Vajra' near the temple here before the vehicle was deployed for the protection of the 12th-century shrine.
The DGP reviewed the security preparedness for the Rath Yatra to be held on June 27, and also in the wake of the current situation along the India-Pakistan border. 'I reviewed security arrangements in Puri for the Rath Yatra. Senior officials from the police headquarters attended the meeting, and there was a detailed discussion on security. The police arrangement for the festival is almost in the final stage. Attention is given on the security inside the temple and outside of the shrine,' Khurania told reporters.
He also said the police officials discussed on crowd control, traffic management and other aspects. During a visit to the shrine, the DGP assessed the readiness of police and security personnel stationed near the temple to prevent potential threats and ensure the safety of pilgrims. Taking to X, the Odisha Police said, 'DGP Shri Yogesh Bahadur Khurania held detailed discussions with senior officers regarding the smooth management of the upcoming Snana Yatra and the world-famous Rath Yatra in Puri, crowd control, smooth management of traffic system, movement of dignitaries and orderly 'darshan' and safe chariot pulling, etc.' Khurania also reviewed the engagement of modern security infrastructure, CCTV monitoring, rapid response units and coordination with local authorities.
'The DGP oversaw the crowd control measures, traffic management, vehicle parking and actions to be taken in an emergency during the Rath Yatra,' a senior official said, adding that the festival will be held for about a fortnight in the last week of June. The DGP has asked the authorities concerned not to lower the existing guards and maintain security protocols even though India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea. Heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the Puri temple has been noticed since the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor to retaliate against the Pahalgam terror attack.
At least eight platoons of personnel were deployed in and around the temple, the officials said. The force deployment would be strengthened as the Rath Yatra festival approaches.
Earlier this month, a team of National Security Guard (NSG) commandos conducted a routine security review. The DGP also reviewed the measures taken at four marine police stations located in Puri district, deployment of lifeguards on the beach and the outreach programme for the fishing community, the officials added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan's 'what if China stops Brahmaputra flow' threat gets curt Himanta Biswa Sarma response
Reacting to a Pakistani official's threat that China can also halt the flow of the River Brahmaputra into India, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday described the remark as Islamabad's new "scare tactic" and said the water body grows after entering the country. He said China contributes only 30-35 percent of the river's total flow. Sarma's response came after a senior aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Ihsaan Afzal, reportedly said that, on the lines of India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, China can take similar measures by stalling the flow of the river, reported ANI. Himanta Biswa Sarma said Pakistan is "spinning another manufactured threat". "What if China stops the Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan's New Scare Narrative. After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: What if China stops the Brahmaputra's water to India? Let's dismantle this myth -- not with fear, but with facts and national clarity: Brahmaputra: A River That Grows in India -- Not Shrinks," he wrote on X. Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Brahmaputra swells after entering India because of torrential monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya. 'China contributes only 30-35% of the Brahmaputra's total flow, mostly through glacial melt and limited Tibetan rainfall. The remaining 65-70% is generated within India, thanks to: Torrential monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya; major tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, Kopili; and additional inflows from the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills via rivers such as Krishnai, Digaru, and Kulsi,' he said. "At the Indo-China border (Tuting): Flow is ~2,000-3,000 m3/s. In Assam plains (e.g., Guwahati): Flow swells to 15,000-20,000 m3/s during monsoon," he added. He said the river is not dependent on upstream flow because it is a rain-fed Indian river system, which strengthens after entering Indian territory. "Even if China were to reduce water flow (unlikely as China has never threatened or indicated in any official forum), it may help India mitigate the annual floods in Assam, which displace lakhs and destroy livelihoods every year. Meanwhile, Pakistan, which has exploited 74 years of preferential water access under the Indus Waters Treaty, now panics as India rightfully reclaims its sovereign rights. Let's remind them: Brahmaputra is not controlled by a single source -- it is powered by our geography, our monsoon, and our civilizational resilience," he said. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty -- which governs the flow of water from India to Pakistan -- in April in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Gujarat last week that the stoppage of water flow had made Pakistan sweat. Pakistan, meanwhile, has said that "water is the country's red line", which mustn't be crossed. 'Pakistan will never accept Indian hegemony. Water is Pakistan's red line, and we will not allow any compromise on this basic right of 240 million Pakistanis,' Pakistan army chief Asim Munir said last week.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Will we get to see a Tharoor vs Bhutto? India and Pakistan delegations to be in US same day
NEW DELHI: The all-party delegation, led by , is scheduled to be in Washington, DC, on Wednesday—coinciding, perhaps not so coincidentally, with the visit of a Pakistani delegation headed by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the Congress MP-led delegation is confident about getting India's message across, a Tharoor vs Bhutto might be on the cards. Talking about this Tharoor said that the presence of both the delegations would lead to an "increase in interest" as the States, whose president has repeatedly claimed credit for India-Pakistan truce, would get to hear two diametrically opposite views on the same day. "In Washington, we'll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost exactly the same days... Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there's going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city," Tharoor told ANI on Tuesday. He further assured that even though India's side might not be a central agenda for the American media, the delegation would get the "message across very, very easily." "It's a challenging environment. America is a very crowded media space, the world's news generator. Therefore, our story may not be at the top of their minds. But if we can get the attention of those who care about South Asia, those who care about India, those who care about terrorism, we can get our message across very, very easily," he said. Tharoor noted that Pakistan's decision to send its own delegation is no coincidence, but unlike India's broader outreach, they are focusing only on countries they consider strategically important. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "It's no accident that the Pakistanis have also sent a delegation abroad, but they're not going to as many countries as the Indian delegations are. They're focusing on what they consider a few key capitals, namely, Washington, Brussels. London. That seems to be the thrust of the Pakistani effort. We have gone to all those capitals and more," he said. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman on May 17, revealed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had entrusted him with leading a delegation to advocate the country's position amid recent escalations with India. The delegations by both the nations are meant to present their respective sides after they launched military operations against each other post Pahalgam terror attack.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
$3 trillion economy goal for Telangana by 2047 when India turns 100, says CM A Revanth Reddy
Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy HYDERABAD: On the occasion of the 11th Telangana Formation Day on Monday, chief minister A Revanth Reddy set a new target of making the state a $3 trillion economy by 2047 and increasing its contribution to the GDP from 5% to 10%. Speaking at the Formation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds, the CM presented the progress report of the 16-month-old Congress govt and sought the cooperation of all political parties, bureaucracy, industrialists and all sections in the state to make Telangana number one in the country. He said the state govt was working in mission mode to ensure that Telangana plays a pivotal role in developing India into a $30 trillion economy by 2047 when the country would celebrate its Independence centenary. "As part of it, the Telangana Rising 2047 action plan has been prepared to turn the state into a $1 trillion economy in the next 10 years and $3 trillion by 2047. The govt has plans to not only develop Telangana as the number one state in the country but also make it capable of competing with the world," the CM said. While sharing several achievements of the state govt such as Rs 20,600 crore crop loan waiver for farmers, nearly 60,000 govt and one lakh private jobs for the unemployed and other welfare schemes, the CM referred to the apolitical stand of the Congress govt in Telangana for the country by extending full support to the Centre and the armed forces during Operation Sindoor.
