Puri is raising the security bar for this year's Rath Yatra, deploying AI‑enabled CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, and NSG snipers on rooftops after terrorism concerns post‑Pahalgam attack. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that NSG rooftop teams and IAF helicopters will conduct aerial patrols to counter any airborne threats.

According to an Odisha senior police officer, these arrangements reflect heightened tension following the Pahalgam terror strike. Over 10,000 personnel, including bomb squads, anti‑terror units, and tactical teams, will ensure layered protection from Uttara Square through the Grand Road . Further AI‑driven crowd analytics, facial recognition, and real‑time monitoring systems will support traffic control and vigilance, overseen by a centralized command centre. The deployment of an additional anti‑terror squad near the Jagannath Temple underscores the commitment to safeguard devotees and VIPs .

Security chiefs stress that in the aftermath of the Pahalgam tragedy, no aspect of protection can be compromised. From rooftops to drones, this Rath Yatra promises unprecedented surveillance and response readiness.