During Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra on Tuesday, an accident in Ahmedabad's Dariyapur left one dead and ten people injured, including one in critical condition. The incident occurred when the third-floor balcony of a three-story building collapsed during the procession.
Chariots roll on amid grand procession
On Tuesday, the 146th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath took place in Ahmedabad. Nearly 26,000 security personnel will be keeping watch as thousands of devotees travel the 18-kilometer route of a grand procession in hopes of seeing the deity.
According to a senior police official, the Gujarat police have used anti-drone technology and 3D mapping technology for the first time during the Rath Yatra to ensure that no unregistered drones are used during the event.
In the morning, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed "Pahind Vidhi," a symbolic ritual in which he used a golden broom to clear the path for the chariots. From the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur region, Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra began the yatra in their chariots.
At the temple in the early hours, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took part in the "mangala aarti," which is an auspicious ritual to pay obeisance to the deity. He tweeted that the Yatra was a "confluence of faith and devotion" and that the Lord's "darshan" experience was "divine and unforgettable."
Dutzendes of elephants, camel-drawn carts, trucks with devotional-themed tableaux, and tight security made up the procession. As it traveled down the roads, which were jam-packed with people from both directions, the procession was greeted with enthusiasm.
Children and adults cheered loudly for the young performers who were part of the procession, who were acrobats from various "akharas." Toffees were thrown by truckers, sending the crowd into a frenzy to retrieve them.
From their balconies and rooftops, people in various pol areas of the walled city of Ahmedabad sprinkled water and flower petals on the procession to help the devotees beat the scorching heat.
Bhajan-singing devotees sped ahead of the chariots.
The chants of "Jai Jagannath" reverberated throughout the space.
The procession moved slowly, but the people's excitement never wavered as they awaited the chariots for hours. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel lined the route, and police took special precautions in communally sensitive areas.
Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra rode in brand-new chariots for the first time in many decades. The cutting-edge 3D mapping technology that was used to monitor and secure the Rath Yatra also marked the first.
In addition to dozens of CCTV cameras, drones were used for surveillance as the procession peacefully moved through some of Ahmedabad's communally sensitive areas. In addition, the police used an anti-drone system to prevent the use of unregistered drones.
According to officials, such drones that are seen in the area will be shot down with special guns, rendering them useless. At his Gandhinagar home, CM Patel used a dashboard to monitor the procession.
In the presence of senior officers, the chief minister kept an eye on the entire Rath Yatra route in real time. From a police control room in Ahmedabad, Harsh Sanghavi, Minister of State for Home, monitored the Yatra.
According to officials, security personnel wearing 2,322 body cameras and 25 vehicles equipped with CCTVs and a GPS system were used to closely monitor the entire procession along the 18-kilometer route.
They stated that the Rath Yatra of Ahmedabad saw the deployment of 26,091 security personnel, including officers and policemen as well as paramilitary forces.
They added that live feed was provided by as many as 94 CCTV cameras placed in 45 sensitive locations.
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