Covid tests to be conducted over 3000 servitors, temple officials prior to Puri Rath Yatra
Wednesday, 7 July 2021 (22:24 IST)
Puri: Over three thousand servitors besides temple officials will be tested for Covid-19 before the grand event of Car festival on July 12 next.
District collector Samarth Verma today appealed to the servitors to get their RT-PCR test which would commence from Thursday.
As per the standard operating procedure (SOP) every servitor intending to participate in the Rath Yatra including pulling of Chariots to Gundicha temple should obtain their Covid-19 test report before 48 hours.
Only the servitors tested negative would be allowed to participate in the fete, Mr. Verma said and urged servitors to take their second dose of vaccine before joining in the fete.
The District Collector said all the covid protocols would be strictly followed and there would be zero tolerance to violations.
Mr.Verma interacted with owners of hotels and lodging house located along side the Badadanda, the venue of the car festival .
The owners of hotels and lodging houses were asked not to allow visitors into their establishments from July 11 till chariots pass through Badadanda to Gundicha temple.
The owners of the private houses are also asked not to go to rooftop to witness the fete and do not allow relatives into their house during pulling of the chariots.
Puri Superintendent of police K.Vishal Singh said adequate security would be provided for safe and smooth conduct of the fete.
On Tuesday evening police conducted a flag March along the Badadanda to ensure that none ventures into Badadanda during the Yatra.
Prohibitor order under Sec.144 would be promulgated on the Badadanda from July 11 night to July 13 noon to prevent devotees coming to Badadanda.
All the roads connected to Badadanda would be sealed so also all the three main entry points to this pilgrim city. The train services to Puri will be suspended.
No house owner or their family would be allowed to go to roof top or stand on their balcony, the SP said and warned that any violation would be treated with heavy hands
Bijay Mahapatra the Biswakarma (chief carpenter of Nandighosh Rath of Lord Jagannath) said construction work of three chariots have been almost finished and the construction yard located on the Badadanda is being dismanteled.
The Roopakaras and Chitrakaras are busy colouring the chariots.
On the Netra utshab day all three chariots would be decked with their respective coloured clothes prepared by Darzi servitors. (UNI)
