Digha gears up for June 27 Rath Yatra with tight security and health measures

Preparations are in the final phase for the Rath Yatra to be held on June 27 from the newly constructed Jagannath Temple in Digha. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to attend the event. Though no official confirmation has been issued, administrative sources have indicated her possible presence. In view of this, large-scale arrangements are being made across Digha, focusing on sanitation, traffic control, and public safety.

Considering the forecast of rain on the day of the event, drainage systems in the area are being cleared and upgraded to prevent waterlogging. A successful trial of helicopter landing has been conducted at the Digha helipad. In case of adverse weather, the Chief Minister may reach the venue by road. Nilanjan Mandal, Executive Officer of the Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority, stated that the drainage system has been strengthened to ensure water does not accumulate on roads.

More than 3,000 police personnel and officers from various districts are being deployed for the Rath Yatra. Surveillance will be conducted using drones and CCTV cameras, and crowd monitoring will be carried out by female officers and plainclothes police personnel. East Midnapore Superintendent of Police Soumyadeep Bhattacharya confirmed these arrangements and said that strict vigilance will be maintained throughout the event.

The Digha State General Hospital will be kept on full alert on the day of the Yatra. In addition, a temporary medical camp will be set up at the temple premises, along with six other medical centers. Two mobile medical units and 20 life-support ambulances will remain on standby to respond to any emergencies. Encroachments along the national highway near Digha are being cleared, and bush cutting is being done to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

The Rath Yatra inauguration ceremony is expected to be attended by state ministers including Chandrima Bhattacharya, Snehashish Chakraborty, Pulak Roy, Sujit Bose, and Aroop Biswas. Senior administrative officers will also be present. Around 50 foreign devotees from countries like China, Russia, and Ukraine are likely to participate. Fifty volunteers from ISKCON will assist in the event, and Kolkata ISKCON Vice-President Radharaman Das will also attend.