Govt takes steps to tackle waterlogging on Grand Road
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Bhubaneswar: As the state braces for heavy rainfall till Saturday, the govt on Wednesday fine-tuned its preparedness to prevent waterlogging and ensure smooth conduct of Puri Rath Yatra on Friday.
Though there is no specific heavy rainfall alert for Puri, the IMD has issued a yellow warning, predicting thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind reaching speeds of 30-40kmph in Puri on Friday.
State govt has said that comprehensive measures have been taken to tackle possible rainfall. Govt has deployed multiple emergency response teams, including the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha fire and emergency service along the Grand Road, where over 10 lakh devotees are expected to gather.
"We have positioned adequate high-capacity dewatering pumps at strategic locations along the Grand Road to tackle any waterlogging issue. Our primary focus is ensuring smooth pulling of the chariots and the safety of devotees while maintaining the sanctity of the event," Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said.
DGP Y B Khurania said, "We are ready with an SOP to effectively control the crowd during rain.
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Rescue teams of various agencies are in complete readiness."
Puri resident Debasis Das said, "Waterlogging on the Grand Road in a perennial problem. There were instances in the past where devotees faced hardship while pulling the chariots negotiating thigh-high rainwater. We hope that the municipality authorities have cleaned the drains."
Servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra of the Jagannath Temple emphasised the historical significance of the festival.
"Rath Yatra has been conducted uninterrupted for centuries, regardless of weather conditions. We have complete faith that Lord Jagannath's journey will proceed smoothly," he said.
Municipality authorities intensified drain cleaning operations. "The drain cleaning exercise is almost complete. We deployed additional workforce to clear all major and minor drains. Our monitoring teams are in place to address any emergency situation," a civic body official said.
The administration has urged devotees to take necessary precautions and follow safety guidelines. "We request all participants to cooperate with security personnel and remain vigilant during the procession. Elderly devotees should adopt extra precautions during rain," collector Swain said.
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