Odisha Government Ensures Safe Rath Yatra in Puri Amid Heavy Rain

The 2026 Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, proceeded without incident despite heavy rainfall that recorded nearly 148 mm the day before the festival. Lakhs of devotees gathered to witness the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, while the Odisha Government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, coordinated police, disaster‑management, health services and municipal teams to maintain crowd safety and traffic flow. Around 13,000 police personnel, supported by Central Armed Police Forces and NSG commandos, managed emergency corridors and surveillance, ensuring a peaceful pilgrimage.

The festival also marked the first Rath Yatra without the voice of Dr Subas Pani, the long‑time Doordarshan commentator who introduced the event to viewers worldwide. Pani, a scholar of English and Odia literature and a pioneer of e‑governance in Odisha, passed away a year earlier. His contributions to broadcasting and the development of the Odisha Computer Application Centre are remembered as a bridge between the humanities and technology.