Elaborate security arrangements were made in Puri to prevent any untoward incident during rath yatra, for which around 10 lakh devotees congregated on Wednesday.

Tight security measures were taken in the wake of recent terror attacks in Dhaka. Coast guard ships and marine police conducted patrolling along Odisha coast.

Anti-terrorist squads, rapid action force, bomb disposal squads were deployed along Grand Road and other strategic locations in the city.

Speaking to The Telegraph, state's director general of police K.B. Singh said as many as 152 armed police forces were deployed in and around Puri to ensure a peaceful rath yatra. "No untoward incident has been reported," said Singh.

The DGP and 16 top police officers supervised the security and law and order arrangements. Puri was divided into three zones and 29 sectors for effective supervision.

As many as 271 closed-circuit television cameras were installed along Grand Road and other strategic locations to keep tabs on the movement of troublemakers.

Intelligence personnel in plain clothes were deployed near the hotels and the identity of tourists and pilgrims were strictly checked at the hotels, holiday homes and other places.

For effective traffic management, 40 platoons of police forces were placed under the supervision of an IG rank officer. Vehicles, except the ambulances and fire tenders, were not allowed inside the city. Tourist and long-distance buses were parked in Malatipatpur bus terminus on the outskirts.

Jagannath temple administration had announced an accident insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, effective from July 5 to 17, to each person taking part in the car festival.

To prevent outbreak of water-borne ailments, elaborate sanitation measures were taken by the public health department and the Puri Municipality.

Squads were formed to maintain cleanliness inside the temple, on the sea beach and other places of congregations and the people were advised not to take stale food items.

Raids were conducted on the roadside food kiosks, said an official of Puri Municipality.