Odisha to issue fewer cordon passes for Jagannath Rath Yatra after deadly overcrowding

Last year’s deaths are shaping a stricter crowd plan

Odisha is set to issue fewer cordon passes for the upcoming Rath Yatra to curb overcrowding near the Jagannath chariots. The decision follows last year’s tragedy in which three people died. With the festival scheduled to begin July 16, officials are finalizing security, crowd management, and infrastructure arrangements to prevent a repeat.