A year after Tripura Ulta Rath Yatra tragedy, authorities enforce new norms for Yatra this year

West Tripura District Magistrate Vishal Kumar announced new safety protocols, including the height of Lord Jagannath’s chariots must be below 5 meters

After last year’s tragic incident during the Ulta Rath Yatra in Kumarghat, Unakoti district, where ten devotees were electrocuted, the West Tripura district administration is taking proactive steps to prevent such mishaps this year.
West Tripura District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar announced new safety protocols, mandating that the height of Lord Jagannath’s chariots must remain below five meters and the use of metal must be minimized to avoid the risk of electrocution.
“To prevent a recurrence of the Kumarghat tragedy, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Tripura Electricity Corporation Ltd (TECL) will inspect the proposed chariots,” Dr. Kumar stated.
“Additionally, TECL will ensure that transmission lines are above a specific height along the designated routes of the upcoming Rath Yatra festival, which is scheduled to commence on July 7. The district administration has also assured the deployment of ambulances and an increased presence of police and firefighters during the event,” the West Tripura District Magistrate further said.
Elaborating on the key aspects of the Rath Yatra to be held this year, Kumar said, “A total of six organizers will participate in this year’s Rath Yatra festival in West Tripura District, with Jagannath Bari and ISKCON being the prime organizers. A meeting was convened with all the stakeholders, including TSECL, PWD, Traffic Police, police, and fire and emergency services, to ensure a safe and accident-free celebration of the Rath Yatra.”
The incident in Kumarghat occurred on June 29, 2023, when a heavily decorated steel rath came into contact with a high-tension wire, resulting in the tragic loss of ten lives and injuries to 16 others.
The district administration’s new measures aim to ensure such a tragedy does not happen again.

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