Bhubaneswar, July 16 -- Devotees thronged the Odisha temple town on Thursday for the annual Rath Yatra despite rain and waterlogged streets after Puri received more than 200 mm of rainfall over the previous 45 hours.

Authorities mounted an unprecedented security and logistics operation for the 3-km ceremonial journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra to the Gundicha Temple aboard towering wooden chariots.

Around 12,000 security personnel, including contingents of the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rapid Action Force (RAF), National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, anti-drone units and snipers, were deployed. The Coast Guard and Marine Police are patrolling the coastline, while 473 ...