New Odisha Age

Puri Declared No-Flying Zone During Rath Yatra; Drone Operations Banned from July 16 to 27

Bhubaneswar: The Puri district administration has declared a 5-kilometre radius around Puri city as a No-Flying Zone from July 16 to July 27, 2026, in view of the annual Rath Yatra festival. The order prohibits the operation of all drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within the designated area to ensure public safety, maintain law…

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Mega Loan Mela for Odisha MSMEs to Be Held in Bhubaneswar on July 10

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, is organising a Mega Loan Mela for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bhubaneswar on July 10. The event will be held at the Institute of Engineers Campus and aims to facilitate access to finance for entrepreneurs…

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Indian Railways to Operate 400+ Special Trains for Rath Yatra and Onam Festivals

Bhubaneswar: National Institute of Technology Rourkela researchers have developed an innovative smart wound dressing that aims to reduce infection, minimize pain during dressing changes, and accelerate the healing process. The advanced dressing combines chitosan-coated gauze with a nanofibrous layer infused with curcumin, the natural bioactive compound found in turmeric known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory…

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Proposal for National Commission for Men Reaches Parliament Through Private Member’s Bill

Bhubaneswar: A proposal to establish a National Commission for Men has reached Parliament after Ashok Kumar Mittal introduced the National Commission for Men Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The proposal cites the recent Ketan Agarwal case as a reminder that men can also become victims of crime and may require dedicated institutional support. According to…

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Ash-Laden Water from NTPC Ash Pond Enters Villages and Farmland After Breach in Angul

Bhubaneswar: A breach in an ash pond operated by NTPC Limited at Derang in Kaniha led to ash slurry flowing into nearby villages, agricultural fields, and a playground after heavy rainfall on Thursday night. According to reports, a portion of the ash pond embankment gave way under the impact of continuous rain, allowing ash-laden water…

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Hirakud Dam to Release Season’s First Floodwater on July 9; Mahanadi Water Levels Expected to Rise

Bhubaneswar: Authorities at Hirakud Dam have announced that the season’s first floodwater release will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, following a steady rise in the reservoir’s water level due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi River basin. The controlled release is part of the dam’s routine monsoon…

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Cooked Food Banned on Puri’s Bada Danda Ahead of Rath Yatra 2026; Only Dry Food Distribution Allowed

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Rath Yatra 2026, the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha has prohibited the distribution of cooked food along Bada Danda, permitting only dry and packaged food items to be served to devotees during the festival. The decision has been taken to maintain strict sanitation, hygiene, and public health standards as…

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Ragpicker Swept Away in Open Stormwater Drain Near Vani Vihar Amid Heavy Rain; Search Operation Underway

Bhubaneswar: A 35-year-old man was swept away in an open stormwater drain near Vani Vihar during heavy rainfall on Saturday, prompting an intensive search and rescue operation by the fire services and police. The missing man has been identified as Anil Singh, a ragpicker who lived in the nearby Patharabanda slum. According to eyewitnesses, Singh…

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Odisha to Distribute 1 Crore Copies of Lakshmi Purana, Announces ₹28 Crore Cultural Corridor

Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha has announced a major cultural initiative to promote the timeless values of the Lakshmi Purana by distributing around one crore copies of the classic text across the state. The initiative is intended to spread its enduring message of women’s empowerment, social equality, and cleanliness while preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich…

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Humble Shrine, Unwavering Faith: A Village in Mayurbhanj Keeps Lord Jagannath’s Traditions Alive

Bhubaneswar: In a time when grand temples and elaborate Rath Yatra celebrations draw thousands of devotees, a small village in Mayurbhanj district offers a powerful reminder that true devotion transcends grandeur. For the past 38 years, the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra have been worshipped under a simple shelter made of…

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