Sambalpur ,19/10(PPT):Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday visited several Durga Puja pandals in Sambalpur, offered prayers to Goddess Durga and extended festive greetings to the people of Odisha.
Pradhan prayed for peace, happiness and prosperity in the State, expressing hope that the blessings of the Goddess would bring well-being to all. He began his visit at Raneswar Ramachandi Peetha in Lapanga, where he offered prayers, and participated in the Navaratri Puja at Gambhari. He subsequently visited Durga Puja pandals at Sakhipada, Jail Chhak, Dhanupali and Zilla School. He also visited the Kalibadi Puja Mandap, which is celebrating its 108th year.
Former Rengali MLA and senior BJP leader Nauri Naik, along with other party leaders, puja committee members, eminent citizens and devotees, accompanied him during the visits. At each venue, Pradhan offered prayers and sought the blessings of the Goddess.
On Sunday, Pradhan had visited Durga Puja pandals in Angul district and offered prayers to Goddess Durga.
Meanwhile, Odisha Police have stepped up reviews of crowd management, emergency evacuation and public safety arrangements at Durga Puja pandals across the State following a stampede at a Durga Puja venue in Kolkata on Saturday that reportedly claimed 19 lives.
Director-General of Police (in-charge) Vinaytosh Mishra directed the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate and district Superintendents of Police to review crowd-control measures and security arrangements. Police have also sought the cooperation of puja committees in deploying adequate volunteers to regulate crowds and ensure the smooth movement of devotees.
The police have appealed to devotees to maintain discipline, follow queue systems and traffic regulations, and cooperate with personnel deployed at the pandals to ensure safe and orderly darshan of Goddess Durga during the festive rush.