Ahmedabad: On Wednesday morning, ahead of the 148th Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannathji’s Jal Yatra faced disruption as water hyacinth in the Sabarmati River became an obstacle. Due to the negligence of the Municipal Corporation, water hyacinth got stuck between the river cruise and the staircase placed at the riverbank, forcing fire department personnel to physically assist dignitaries in disembarking.

During the Jal Yatra, 108 pots of sacred water from the Sabarmati River are traditionally used to perform the ritual worship of Lord Jagannath, Brother Balram, and Sister Subhadra. The Municipal Corporation had claimed on Tuesday that 54 tons of water hyacinth had been removed and that the river would be completely cleared before the procession. A special river cruise had been arranged to transport dignitaries for the occasion. However, even the cruise faced difficulty reaching the riverbank.

Around 15 personnel from the fire department, including the Divisional Fire Officer and Station Officer, were deployed on duty aboard the river cruise. The sight of water hyacinth jammed between the cruise and the riverbank stairs caused embarrassment, particularly for the Mayor and other officials present at the event.