Odisha begins Rath Yatra preparations 7 months early after 2025 stampede deaths

The Odisha government has begun preparations for the annual Rath Yatra festival seven months in advance, aiming for zero-error arrangements after a stampede during the 2025 event claimed three lives and injured several others, reports said.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level preparatory meeting on Tuesday evening and directed all departments to identify lapses from previous years and implement corrective measures well ahead of the mega festival, scheduled to be held on July 16.

Explaining the unusually early planning, Garg said the government did not want to take any chances and stressed that detailed, foolproof planning over the next seven months was essential to prevent a repeat of last year’s incidents.

The meeting focused on key aspects such as crowd management, security, traffic regulation, sanitation, water supply and infrastructure, with officials noting that arrangements must evolve as the number of devotees continues to grow each year.

Last year’s Rath Yatra in Puri saw nearly 10 lakh devotees, but delays in chariot pulling and a deadly stampede triggered public outrage and an apology from the chief minister, prompting authorities to adopt stricter and more proactive measures this time.