Security  arrangements have been beefed up in Orissa temple town of Puri for the Jagannath Rath Yatra or the Car festival to be held today. Nearly ten lakh devotees from across the country are likely to take part in the annual religious event. Lakhs of people have already arrived in the small coastal town to participate in the colourful festival.
Sources in the state home department said, 65 platoons of police will be deployed in and around the temple town to maintain law and order during the Rath Yatra. Fifty five platoons were deployed during the last year’s car festival.Besides, several platoons of elite rapid action force (RAF), bomb disposal squads and special squads to handle any kind of terrorists’ attack will be deployed during the day long festival. Roof top force deployment has also been made on the grand road in front of the Puri temple.
The raths of the three deities of the temple will be pulled on the grand road. The Director General(DG) of state police, Amarananda Patnaik had a review of the security arrangements in Puri on Saturday evening.
Sources in the home department said the Coast Guards have been requested to have a close watch on the Puri coast during the festival.