Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 29: At least three people, including two women, were killed and about 50 others injured, six of them critically, in a stampede outside the Gundicha temple during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in the famous temple town of Puri in Odisha in the wee hours of Sunday.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered a personal apology and on behalf of his Government for the lives lost in the stampede and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. He ordered a high level inquiry under chairmanship of Development Commissioner to look into alleged lapses in security arrangement, which he termed “unpardonable” and assured the people that exemplary action would be taken against persons responsible for the tragic incident. The government also announced compensation of ₹25 lakh each for next of kin of persons who lost lives in the stampede.
Mr Majhi also ordered immediate transfer of Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain and Superintendent of police Binit Agarwal. Chanchal Rana has been appointed as the new District Collector of Puri, while senior officer Pinak Mishra has been named the new SP. In addition, disciplinary action has been taken against other officials for alleged dereliction of duty. DCP Bishnu Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended following preliminary findings of negligence in managing the crowd and ensuring safety.
The Law Minister Harichandan has described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” and said the rituals were proceeding smoothly until the Pahandi Bije. Some devotees had sat down near the area as the pahandi was delayed. When the gates were opened, the crowd’s eagerness intensified, leading to a sudden surge and stampede-like situation.
He said there was negligence at some level and lapse somewhere. “I have already informed the Chief Minister this morning. On behalf of the government, the CM has expressed deep regret and has apologised to the devotees,” he said.
Harichandan further assured that appropriate action would be taken. “The Chief Minister has already committed to action. DGP visited the site, reviewed the situation, and has briefed the CM about the incident. The minister reiterated that a thorough investigation is underway and that the government is committed to ensuring accountability and improving safety protocols for future events.
The stampede took place in front of the chariot of Lord Jagannath, Nandighosh, when it reached the Gundicha Temple around 4-5 am on Sunday, Mr Swain said. Chaos ensued after two trucks carrying materials for rituals reportedly entered the crowded spot near the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities, officials said.
When the three chariots reached their destination, a huge crowd of devotees gathered to have darshan of the deity, which lead to the collapse of the crowd barriers. As a result, several devotees fell over each other near the wheels of the chariot.
A resident of Puri, who claimed to be present in the temple at the time of the stampede, said the crowd management was “not good”. He said a new entrance had been created for the VIPs, with the common people being asked to exit the temple from a distance. However, he claimed that people started to exit from the entrance itself, increasing the crowd there.
The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, and the condition of six people is critical, he said. The deceased have been identified as Basanti Sahu from Bolagarh of Khorda district, Premakanti Mohanty, and Prabhati Das from Athantara village under Balianta block. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is und
Every year, the coastal town of Puri comes alive with the Rath Yatra, a centuries-old chariot festival of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra. The sibling deities, installed in majestic wooden chariots, are ceremonially pulled by devotees from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple—considered their aunt’s abode.
Lakhs of devotees gather along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to witness the spectacle. The deities remain at Gundicha Temple for seven days, where they are worshipped before returning to the main temple. Darshan of the deities on the chariots is considered especially auspicious.
This year, however, the Rath Yatra held on Friday was marred by mismanagement. The three chariots could not complete their two and half kilometre journey to Gundicha Temple by sunset, as required by tradition. After sunset, pulling of the chariots was halted and resumed only the following morning. By Saturday the chariots were brought near the Gundicha Temple but the deities remained on them.
Over the past few years, to avoid the daytime crowd, many devotees have started arriving at night for darshan of the deities on the chariots. This year, too, thousands gathered during the night. However, the situation turned chaotic when darshan was temporarily stopped due to the Pahandi ritual (when the deities are put to rest). Once the Pahandi was lifted, devotees surged forward, causing severe congestion.
The close placement of the chariots further aggravated the situation, ultimately leading to a stampede. The incident took place around 4 a.m. “We have received information about three deaths. The condition of six critically injured persons is stated to be stable,” the District Collector said.
Relatives of the victims and several devotees alleged a complete absence of police personnel during the night, which they said contributed to the tragedy. The Puri Superintendent of Police, however, maintained that adequate police deployment had been made around the chariots.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who have lost their lives in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali, Puri and I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath for the swift recovery of the devotees injured in this devastating incident,” said former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a message posted on social media site ‘X’.
Mr Patnaik said, “Today’s stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the Rath Yatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees.”
“Eyewitnesses report that the initial response to this horrific tragedy came from the devotees’ relatives, with no government machinery present to manage the surging crowds, highlighting a shocking lapse in duty,” he pointed out.
“The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosh chariot on Rath Yatra day was conveniently attributed to ‘Mahaprabhu’s wish’, a shocking excuse that masks the administration’s complete abdication of responsibility,” the former CM said in a sharp criticism of the Mohan Majhi Government. He said, “while I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy.”
There were allegations about BJP Ministers misusing their power to facilitate entry of their near and dear ones and supporters to inner cordon of chariots, causing further chaos. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das condemned the ‘mismanagement’ during the Rath Yatra. He demanded a time-bound judicial probe into the tragic incident.
Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister and BJP’s key leader in Odisha, said he has spoken to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi about the stampede. “He has taken responsibility for the incident. He has assured to take the required actions in this matter,” he said.
