Author: Neel Achary

ECI Appoints 10 Senior IAS Officers as Electoral Roll Observers for Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 4 (UDN): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed ten senior IAS officers as Electoral Roll Observers to supervise the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 of electoral rolls in Odisha, with an aim to ensure a transparent, inclusive and error-free voter registration exercise across the State.

The observers have been assigned responsibility for different clusters of districts and will oversee the implementation of the revision process, monitor field-level activities and coordinate with district election authorities to ensure strict adherence to the Election Commission’s guidelines.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, each observer has been directed to undertake at least three visits to the districts under his or her charge during the revision period. Besides reviewing progress at district headquarters, the officers will inspect polling stations in selected Assembly constituencies and hold meetings with Members of Parliament, MLAs and representatives of recognised political parties to assess the implementation of the exercise.

The observers will also be accessible to members of the public to receive complaints and representations relating to voter enrolment, deletion of names and correction of electoral roll entries. They have been tasked with examining constituencies where additions or deletions of electors exceed the prescribed limits and reviewing reports submitted by District Election Officers before submitting their findings to the Chief Electoral Officer.

As per the district-wise allocation, Rajesh Pravakar Patil will oversee Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Jajpur districts; Aravind Agrawal will monitor Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj; Balwant Singh has been assigned Kalahandi, Balangir and Nuapada; B. Parameswaran will supervise Subarnapur, Boudh and Kandhamal; and Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya will oversee Deogarh, Sambalpur and Bargarh.

Similarly, D. Prasantha Kumar Reddy has been assigned Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada; Sudhansu Mohan Samal will supervise Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Angul; Rashmita Panda will oversee Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh and Bhubaneswar; Mohammed Sadique Alam has been assigned Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri; while Sangram Keshari Mohapatra will monitor Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts.

The draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision-2026 will be published on July 5, while claims and objections can be filed between July 5 and August 4. Eligible citizens can apply for inclusion of their names through Form 6, seek deletion through Form 7, and request corrections in electoral details using Form 8.

The Special Intensive Revision is being carried out with July 1, 2026 as the qualifying date to ensure that the electoral rolls remain updated, accurate and comprehensive ahead of future elections.

Two Killed, Five Injured as Speeding Dumper Rams Rescuers, Media Personnel in Mayurbhanj

Baripada, July 5 (UDN): Two persons were killed and five others, including three television camerapersons, sustained grievous injuries after a speeding dumper truck rammed into a group of rescuers and media personnel at an accident site in the Palbani area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district late Friday night.

According to police, the tragedy unfolded after a timber-laden truck overturned on the roadside near Palbani, prompting local residents, police personnel, forest officials and journalists to rush to the spot to assist in the rescue operation and regulate traffic.

While the rescue work was in progress, a dumper truck, allegedly travelling at high speed, lost control, mounted the overturned vehicle and crashed into the gathering, causing panic and leaving several people trapped under the vehicle.

Two persons died on the spot, while five others suffered serious injuries. Three of the injured are television camerapersons covering the incident. One of them, identified as Lalit Barik, sustained critical injuries and was initially admitted to Pandit Raghunath Murmu (PRM) Medical College and Hospital in Baripada before being shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment at the Baripada medical college.

The identities of the deceased were yet to be officially confirmed till the filing of this report.

Police have seized the dumper involved in the incident and launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the crash. Senior district officials visited the accident site and reviewed the rescue and relief measures.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the district, particularly among the media fraternity, as journalists covering the earlier accident became victims of the second mishap. Authorities are investigating whether overspeeding, negligence or poor visibility contributed to the fatal collision.

Govt Reviews Rath Yatra Transport Plan, Orders Enhanced Bus Services

Bhubaneswar, July 4 (UDN): The Odisha government on Friday intensified preparations for the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, directing officials to strengthen transport, traffic management and commuter facilities to ensure the safe and hassle-free movement of lakhs of devotees expected to participate in the festival.

The directives were issued at a high-level review meeting chaired by Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department N.B.S. Rajput, Additional Director General of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi, Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman Amitabh Thakur, Puri Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, senior police officers, and representatives of CRUT and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The meeting reviewed transport arrangements, traffic regulation, crowd management and parking facilities along the Bhubaneswar–Puri corridor, which is expected to witness a heavy influx of pilgrims during the world-famous chariot festival.

To facilitate smooth travel, the authorities decided to augment bus services to Puri and ensure uninterrupted public transport operations. Officials were instructed to display standard fare charts prominently and take strict action against operators charging fares above the prescribed rates.

The government also directed the installation of CCTV surveillance systems and adequate lighting at designated parking areas. Free shuttle bus services will be provided from parking zones to the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to minimise congestion in the temple town.

Reviewing the condition of the Bhubaneswar–Puri National Highway, the Minister asked officials to expedite repair work, install proper directional signboards and strengthen traffic enforcement to prevent overspeeding and ensure orderly vehicular movement throughout the festival period.

A comprehensive traffic regulation plan will be implemented from Bhubaneswar to Puri to manage the anticipated surge in vehicles and maintain smooth traffic flow.

Emphasising that the safety and convenience of devotees remain the government’s highest priority, Jena directed all departments to work in close coordination and ensure seamless transport and traffic arrangements for the successful conduct of the Rath Yatra.