Bhubaneswar – In the wake of the tragic stampede at Saradhabali near Shree Gundicha Temple that claimed three lives, the Odisha government on Sunday initiated a major administrative reshuffle aimed at restoring public trust and tightening festival management.
Senior IAS officer Saswata Mishra, from the 1996 batch, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. This key post had remained vacant since May 2, following the departure of Nikunja Bihari Dhal, who was reassigned to the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry at the Centre. Mishra will continue in his current roles as Principal Secretary of the Finance Department and Chairman of IDCO alongside this new responsibility, according to an official notification issued by the General Administration department.
In a move clearly aimed at damage control and efficient coordination of the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, the state government has reappointed experienced officers who have previously managed the event’s large-scale logistics and crowd dynamics.
IAS officer Aravind Agrawal, a former Puri Collector, has been made overall in-charge of the Rath Yatra, while senior IPS officer Soumendra Priyadarshi, formerly Police Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, will oversee the entire security apparatus in the pilgrim city.
Additionally, Pinak Mishra, who had earlier served as Puri SP, has returned to the post, replacing Vinit Agrawal. Similarly, Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana has been transferred to Puri, taking over from Siddharth Shankar Swain. Both Agrawal and Swain have been moved to the General Administration Department and State Police Headquarters respectively, and designated as Officers on Special Duty (OSD).
These reshufflings come on the heels of disciplinary action, including the suspension of DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi, as the administration faces backlash for alleged lapses in crowd control and safety planning since the start of Rath Yatra on June 27.
Soon after the reshuffle, the newly posted Collector Chanchal Rana and SP Pinak Mishra were seen on the ground near the chariots, assessing arrangements alongside Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Padhee. Their immediate focus: ensuring the smooth conduct of Adapa Mandap Bije, the ceremonial procession in which Lord Jagannath and the sibling deities are escorted from the chariots into the sanctum of the Gundicha Temple.
With major rituals like Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha still ahead, the government’s decision to bring back experienced officers signals a strong attempt to regain control and prevent any further mishaps in the sacred festival.
