Bhubaneswar, 13 July (H.S.): Ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, authorities in Puri have intensified beach safety measures as lakhs of devotees and tourists are expected to visit the coastal pilgrim town. As part of the preparedness, the Puri Lifeguard Association on Monday conducted mock rescue drills along the city's sea beach to strengthen emergency response capabilities.

The drills focused on equipping lifeguards with advanced rescue techniques to effectively handle emergencies caused by rough sea conditions, rip currents, or overcrowding during the festival.

During the exercise, lifeguards demonstrated rapid-response rescue operations, including reaching distressed swimmers, safely bringing them back to shore, administering immediate first aid, and coordinating medical assistance when required. The mock drills were aimed at improving response time, coordination, and overall preparedness to deal with beach-related emergencies.

Puri beach witnesses a massive influx of pilgrims and tourists during Rath Yatra every year, making beach safety a key priority for the district administration. In addition to crowd management, lifeguards will remain on constant vigil to prevent drowning incidents and ensure swift assistance to visitors in distress.

Officials said the mock rescue exercises form part of the comprehensive safety arrangements being put in place to provide a safe and secure experience for the large number of devotees expected to visit Puri during Rath Yatra 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda