Sambalpur, May 9: Security has been intensified at Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur, Odisha, with authorities restricting tourist entry as a precautionary measure.

The Sambalpur district administration, in coordination with state and central security agencies, has deployed advanced weaponry, including Light Machine Guns (LMGs), to safeguard this vital infrastructure.

The Hirakud Dam, Asia’s longest earthen dam, plays a crucial role in irrigation, power generation, and flood control, making its protection a top priority.

Officials have clarified that the tourist restrictions are temporary and will be reviewed periodically based on the security situation.

“The decision to close the dam to visitors has been taken purely in the interest of public safety and national security,” a senior official said.

However, the administration has not cited any specific threat intelligence behind the move.

Security arrangements have also been heightened at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and the Paradip Port in Jagatsinghpur.

On the other hand, a high-level meeting is likely to be held in Balasore district on Friday afternoon to discuss steps to tighten security arrangements at sensitive defence installations of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur in Balasore.

DIG of Police (Eastern Range) Satyajit Naik had earlier convened an emergency meeting to hold discussions on enhancing security measures at defence installations at Chandipur.

"In view of the prevailing war-like situation in the country, it is proposed to hold an emergency meeting on 09.05.2025 at 02:00 p.m. to review the security arrangements of the critical defence installations, including the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, and Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur," wrote Naik.

The Indian Army, in a statement, said that Pakistan launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9 and resorted to numerous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, which were effectively repulsed.

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