Following a deadly stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri that left three dead, Congress leader Rama Chandra Kadam holds the Odisha government responsible, citing severe mismanagement and police brutality towards journalists.
Puri (Odisha), June 29 – The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of the most revered and widely celebrated Hindu festivals, was marred by tragedy on Sunday as a stampede-like situation near the Gundicha Temple in Puri led to the death of at least three devotees and left several others injured.
In response, Leader of the Odisha Congress Legislative Party, Rama Chandra Kadam, strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a clear failure of the state government and administrative machinery.
“It is deeply saddening that during the world-famous Rath Yatra, devotees lost their lives due to a stampede-like situation in front of the Gundicha Temple. This tragic incident has clearly exposed the mismanagement of the state government, in the eyes of countless devotees of Lord Jagannath,” Kadam said in a post on social media platform X.
Offering condolences to the families of the deceased, Kadam added:
“We offer our heartfelt tributes to the departed souls and extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We urge the state to take immediate action and uphold the sanctity and dignity of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra.”
Beyond the tragic loss of life, Kadam also highlighted incidents of police brutality against journalists, calling it another alarming example of administrative failure during the event.
Referring to events reported earlier on June 27, Kadam had already sounded the alarm on mistreatment faced by media personnel:
“Shocking incidents of police brutality on journalists during Puri Rath Yatra! Despite valid passes, journalists were assaulted and denied entry. DIPRO officials were also injured. The state government’s failure to ensure journalist safety is glaring. Immediate action is necessary.”
The series of events during the sacred festival has sparked concerns across the political spectrum and civil society regarding crowd control, public safety, and freedom of the press during mass religious gatherings.
Visuals from Puri’s postmortem centre showed grieving families gathered outside the facility, waiting for confirmation and final rites of their loved ones. The emotional toll was compounded by confusion and crowding near the hospital, highlighting broader lapses in crisis response.
In an official statement, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan confirmed the casualties and emphasized that the state was providing the best possible medical care to the injured.
“Today, I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to hear about the incident at Shri Kshetra, near Gundicha Temple, where three devotees lost their lives due to a stampede during darshan. On behalf of the state government, all arrangements have been made at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital to treat the injured. I pray for their speedy recovery,” he said.
As investigations continue, the focus has now shifted to accountability and preventive mechanisms to avoid such tragedies during future editions of the Jagannath Rath Yatra, which annually draws millions of devotees from across the world.