AHMEDABAD - Eight individuals, including three children, were injured during the Rath Yatra celebrations in Ahmedabad on Tuesday when a section of a second-floor balcony collapsed in the Dariyapur neighbourhood near Kadianaka. Despite concerns being raised in the past month about the structural integrity of houses along the Rath Yatra route, action was not taken, highlighting a serious oversight by the local administration.

The incident occurred as the Rath Yatra procession passed through the area. People sitting in a truck were distributing prasad to the devotees standing in the balcony of the house. According to local witnesses, the balcony slab suddenly gave way while people were receiving prasad, causing injuries to those in its path.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has come under scrutiny for its alleged negligence in this incident. According to local reports, despite the evident disrepair, the AMC's estate department had not issued a notice to the owners of the house near Kadianaka prior to the incident.

Upon the slab's collapse, AMC officials promptly arrived at the scene and publicly posted a notice. According to police sources, "The house near Kadianaka was old and part of its second-floor balcony suddenly fell, causing injuries to the people standing below. A total of eight people were injured, but luckily all suffered only minor injuries, and there were no fatalities."

The injured were immediately transported to the Civil Hospital for treatment. This incident has brought to light the urgent need for municipal authorities to address and rectify neglected infrastructural risks, especially during such crowded public events.

Ahmedabad, June 20 (IANS) The 146th rath yatra in the city of Ahmedabad kicked off on Tuesday with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performing the traditional Pahind ceremony.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted the Mangala Aarti early in the morning at the revered Jagannath Mandir.

In a departure from convention, where the former head of the royal family in Odisha performs the Pahind ceremony for the yatra in Jagannath Puri, Ahmedabad's rath yatra sees the Chief Minister of the state taking on this significant role.

The grand procession commenced with the majestic march of elephants, followed by intricately decorated trucks distributing prasadi (blessed offerings). Skillful Akharians captivated the spectators with their daredevil stunts throughout the procession. The three chariots carrying the divine deities - Bhagwan Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra - were accompanied by devotional bhajan mandalis.

The rath yatra unfolds in two phases. In the first phase, the yatra proceeds from Jagannath Mandir to Saraspur, where the people of Saraspur host a lavish lunch. Later, in the second phase, the yatra returns to the temple, passing through certain communally sensitive areas.

As per tradition, the rath yatra commences around 7 a.m. and concludes by around 7 p.m., as the chariots make their way back to the temple.

Ensuring the safety and security of the event, the Gujarat Police employed advanced 3D mapping technology for route monitoring and deployed anti-drone technology to prevent the unauthorized use of drones during the procession, as confirmed by a senior police official.

The chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra embarked on their sacred journey from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in the Jamalpur area, captivating devotees and onlookers alike.

The Rath Yatra, a significant event in the Hindu calendar, takes place annually on Ashadhi Bij, the second day of the Ashad month. Following its course through the old city, including areas like Jamalpur, Kalupur, Shahpur, and Dariyapur, the procession is scheduled to return to the temple by 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

To ensure a safe and peaceful celebration, over 26,000 personnel were deployed from the city police, Home Guards, State Reserve Police, and para-military forces at strategic locations along the 18-kilometer-long yatra route, according to officials.

Their presence aims to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain the sanctity of the rath yatra.

Bhubaneswar, June 19 (IANS) The Odisha government has made elaborate arrangements for smooth and timely conduct of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on Tuesday.

All roads lead to the pilgrim town. Thousands of devotees have started thronging pilgrim town Puri to witness the nine-day long Rath Yatra beginning on Tuesday.

Lord Jagannath and his two siblings - elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra - are ready to give darshan to the public in Raths and visit Gundicha Temple.

The three majestic chariots are almost ready and will be brought to the Singha Dwar and parked facing East towards Gundicha temple. The chariots will be pulled by lakhs of devotees on Tuesday.

A large number of devotees visited the temple on Monday on the occasion of Nabajouban darshan after the deities recovered from 14-day long illness.

The Parimanika darshan of the Lords was started early at 7:20 a.m. due to early completion of rituals and this was followed by the Sahana Mela darshan from 8:05 a.m. in which the devotees witnessed the Nabajoubana Besha (attire) of the Lords from the Bhitara Katha inside the Jagmohan, said Odisha Chief Secretary P.K. Jena, who was in Puri on Monday.

Praying for a chill weather tomorrow, Jena said all arrangements have been made keeping heatwave condition in view. Sufficient drinking water facilities including distribution of water bottles have been made for the devotees, he said.

Water sprinkling will be done by the fire service personnel and ORS will also be given to the devotees, Jena stated.

"Till now, all the rituals are being conducted smoothly and little ahead. We will have another round of discussion with the senior servitors this evening for timely completion of the rituals during Ghosa Yatra," he added.

Tight security arrangements have been made in and around Puri town for the festival. The pilgrim town has been divided into 14 zones and 29 sectors.

About 170 platoons of police personnel will be deployed for the conduct of the yatra. For Monday, Nabajouban darshan, 70 platoons of police deployed in the town.

For the first time, a Coast Guard helicopter will patrol the beach and fast patrol vehicles deployed close by. Interceptor boats will be stationed at Paradip, ready for any contingency, till July 2, said additional DGP, Law and Order, Sanjay Kumar.

The Railways will install face recognising cameras on the railway platforms to screen the crowd of suspicious people. A total of 125 special trains will ply to Puri during the festival, he said.

A large number of CCTV cameras assisted by drones' cameras connected to a number of control stations will function during the Rath Yatra.

Under a special mobility plan, an advisory on vehicular movement to Puri has been issued.

Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur said all inter-state tourist buses and local tourist buses will stop and park at Malatipatpur bus stand.

Other daily passenger-carrying buses will be allowed up to Talabania temporary bus stand via Malatipatapur railway over bridge, Toshali Sands, Grid Station Chhak and Bhudan Chhaka.

Vehicles on the Bhubaneswar-Puri route and Konark will be allowed to park near grid substation and Talabania area while vehicles coming from Brahmagiri will be parked in Florence India Garden parking space.

Puri town shuttle buses/auto rickshaw will be allowed from Talabania to Zilla School Chhaka.

Two-wheelers will avail parking at Jagannath Ballav, Masanichandi, Matitota parking, Nilachala Ashok and Blue Flag beach.

All Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) like cars and SUVs will avail parking facilities at the parking places at indoor stadium, helipad, Sanskrit University parking, ID College Parking, Nalifield and Yatrika. They will be diverted as per availability of space in parking places accordingly.

For smooth darshan of the Lords by devotees, some shuttle services have been implemented from Talabania to Zilla School Chhaka and from Malatipatapur to Atharanala.

Besides, the areas from Atharanala Chhaka to Hospital Chhaka and from Hospital Chhaka to Subash Bose Crossing, have been announced as no vehicle zones.

The regulation of vehicular traffic will be imposed from June 19 to June 21, 2023. The same traffic regulation will be again applied from June 28 to June 29.

Ahmedabad, June 18 - In an unprecedented move to bolster security measures, the Gujarat Government has decided to use 3D mapping technology to monitor the 146th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 20. This initiative was announced following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and attended by Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi and senior state officials.

The meeting, also attended by Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Kailashnathan, Chief Secretary Rajkumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Mukesh Puri, and Director General of Police Vikas Sahay, underscored the significance of peace, security, and prevention of untoward incidents during the upcoming religious procession.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, Premveer Singh, presented an in-depth account of the administrative preparations for the Rath Yatra. The pioneering 3D mapping technology will facilitate surveillance of the entire Yatra route, private temples, strategic points, and other significant aspects. Encouraged by the initiative, Chief Minister Patel directed officials to implement similar techniques in future Yatras.

Furthermore, to prevent the spread of rumors through social media or other platforms, the cybercrime and crime branch have been put on high alert. The government will also take stern action against unauthorized sale of prepaid SIM cards, reinforcing security measures.

Besides the main Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad city, six other smaller processions will be held across different areas. "The government has made extensive arrangements to conduct the 146th Rath Yatra in an orderly and enthusiastic manner," stated Minister of State for Home Sanghvi.

A total of 26,091 police officers and paramilitary force personnel will be deployed for the event. Surveillance at 45 sensitive locations will be enhanced through 94 CCTV cameras, along with 2,322 body-worn cameras, and 25 vehicles fitted with CCTV and GPS technology.

The government is also implementing anti-drone technology to prevent unauthorized drone usage during the Rath Yatra. In the run-up to the event, several peace initiatives such as an all-religion blood donation camp, a cricket tournament, and community meetings have been conducted to foster a positive and congenial atmosphere for the Yatra.

SURAT - This year's Rath Yatra in Surat is set to feature a technological spectacle - a state-of-the-art chariot for Lord Jagannath, equipped with the latest technology. The event will take place on the day of Ashadhi Beej, where devotees will witness Lord Jagannath, his brother Balram, and sister Subhadra appear on the chariot, prepared by ISKCON temple located in Surat's Varachha.

In an innovative mix of tradition and technology, the chariot has been assembled using the lower part of a truck, incorporating hydraulic systems. Usually constructed by artisans from special wood over several months, this year's chariot represents a shift in tradition, harnessing the durability of a truck's structure.

Akin to driving an actual truck, the chariot will include a driver's seat and a braking system, facilitating easy navigation in congested areas. The Rath Yatra procession, covering a total distance of 11 kilometers, will start from Surat Varachha Mini Bazar and conclude at Sarthana Jakatnaka.

The preparation of this unique chariot began eight months ago in Vadodara. After the structure was ready, it was moved to Surat for finishing touches, which includes a vibrant paint job. The structure, incorporating steel and iron along with wood, promises to be the main attraction of the event.

Standing at an impressive 33 feet high, 27 feet long, and 17 feet wide, the modern chariot is a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation. All systems, including the wheels, are mounted on the hydraulic part beneath the structure, reminiscent of a large truck. The chariot's hi-tech design and appearance are eagerly anticipated to dazzle devotees and onlookers during the Rath Yatra.