Puri (Odisha): The sacred celebrations of the Puri Rath Yatra turned tragic this year after a stampede during the festival claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured. The incident occurred amid a massive crowd surge near the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan called the tragedy “very unfortunate” and assured that strict action would follow the completion of a high-level investigation.
“A senior officer is investigating the incident. We will take appropriate action once the report is submitted,” Harichandan stated.
⚠️ Major Administrative Shake-Up
In the wake of the incident, the Odisha government has:
- Ordered a high-level inquiry, supervised by the Development Commissioner.
- Transferred Puri SP and Collector, replacing them with Pinak Mishra and Chanchal Rana, respectively.
- Suspended DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi for negligence in duty.
💸 Compensation and Assurance from CM
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow and announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased devotee.
“Rath Yatra is a source of pride for Odisha. We will ensure such a tragedy never occurs again,” CM Majhi affirmed.
🛕 Rituals Continue Despite Tragedy
Despite the crowd incident, rituals proceeded without disruption, said Arabinda K Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple.
“The chariots reached Gundicha Temple on June 28. The rituals were conducted smoothly, and we thank the devotees for their cooperation,” he said.
Key upcoming ritual:
- Sandhya Darshan – Scheduled for July 4.
Odisha DGP YB Khurania confirmed that the Pahandi Bije ceremony was completed peacefully, and lakhs of devotees participated across the state.
🙏 Spiritual Significance Meets Safety Concerns
The annual Rath Yatra is one of India’s most spiritually significant festivals, drawing devotees from across the country. However, the recent stampede has prompted urgent concerns overcrowd control, safety protocols, and emergency preparedness.
Authorities have pledged a review of all crowd management measures, vowing to prioritize devotee safety in the coming days as the Yatra continues.