Ahmedabad Police reunite 64 missing children at 149th Rath Yatra
Synopsis
During Ahmedabad's 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra, police deployed 17 dedicated assistance centres across the procession route and reunited all 64 children who had been separated from their families — a quiet but significant crowd-management success at one of India's largest urban religious processions outside Puri.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad City Police reunited 64 missing children with their families during the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra on 17 July .
17 Jan Sahayata Kendras (Public Assistance Centres) were deployed at key points along the procession route.
41 children were from the Gaikwad Haveli area; 21 from Shaherkotda ; one each from Kalupur and Shahpur .
The Rath Yatra originates from a nearly 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur , Ahmedabad.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the Mangala Aarti ; Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel performed the Pahind Vidhi .
Ahmedabad City Police reunited 64 children who had become separated from their families during the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on 17 July, deploying 17 public assistance centres along the procession route to manage emergencies and guide lakhs of devotees, officials confirmed.
How the Operation Worked
The temporary Jan Sahayata Kendras (Public Assistance Centres) were positioned at 17 key points across the Rath Yatra route, stretching from Jamalpur near the Jagannath Temple to Khadia crossroads. Other locations included Khamasa crossroads, Raipur Police Outpost, Panchkuva Gate, Kalupur Circle Traffic Outpost, Manek Chowk, Shahpur Gate, and Danapith crossroads, among others. Police personnel used loudspeaker announcements at each centre to spread awareness and coordinate with the public.
Where the Children Were Found
Of the 64 children traced and reunited, 41 were from the Gaikwad Haveli Police Station area and 21 from the Shaherkotda Police Station area. One child each was identified from the Kalupur and Shahpur police station areas. Officers at the assistance centres carried out verification before handing each child back to their parents or guardians. 'The assistance centres played a key role in tracing children who had become separated from their families during the day-long procession,' officials said.
Scale of the Rath Yatra
The 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra was taken out on Thursday from the nearly 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad's Jamalpur area. The annual procession, regarded as one of India's largest Rath Yatras outside Puri, passed through the old city before returning to the temple after covering its traditional route. Lakhs of devotees lined the route to offer prayers as the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra moved through the city.
VIP Participation
Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the Mangala Aarti before the procession began. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the traditional Pahind Vidhi, symbolically sweeping the path before the chariots — a ritual that underscores the spiritual and civic significance the state government attaches to the event.
Broader Context
Large-scale religious gatherings in dense urban corridors routinely pose crowd-management challenges. The deployment of dedicated assistance centres with loudspeaker infrastructure reflects a structured approach to public safety at mass events — one that other cities hosting major yatras and melas may look to replicate. All 64 children were confirmed reunited with their families by the end of the day.
Point of View
But it also surfaces a question that rarely makes headlines: why do tens of thousands of families still attend India's largest religious gatherings without any digital tagging or wristband identification for children? The Jan Sahayata Kendra model works, but it is reactive. With Ahmedabad's Rath Yatra drawing lakhs annually, a proactive child-safety protocol — QR wristbands, dedicated child-help zones mapped on Google — could reduce separations before they happen, not just resolve them after. The political optics of senior leaders attending the aarti and vidhi are well-covered; the crowd-safety infrastructure that made the day incident-free deserves equal attention.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children went missing during the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra 2025?
A total of 64 children became separated from their families during the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on 17 July 2025. All 64 were subsequently reunited with their parents or guardians by Ahmedabad City Police.
What are Jan Sahayata Kendras and how did they help?
Jan Sahayata Kendras are temporary public assistance centres set up by Ahmedabad City Police along the Rath Yatra route. During the 149th Rath Yatra, 17 such centres used loudspeaker announcements to guide devotees and trace children who had been separated from their families.
Where was the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra held?
The 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, originating from the nearly 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur area. It is considered one of India's largest Rath Yatras outside Puri, Odisha.
Which police station areas had the most missing children?
The Gaikwad Haveli Police Station area recorded the highest number — 41 children — followed by 21 from the Shaherkotda Police Station area. One child each was traced from the Kalupur and Shahpur police station areas.
Which senior leaders attended the 149th Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the Mangala Aarti before the procession began. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the Pahind Vidhi, the traditional ritual of symbolically sweeping the path before the chariots.
