At least three people lost their lives due to suffocation and six others sustained injuries during a tragic stampede-like situation near the Gundicha Temple amid the ongoing Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan confirmed on Sunday.
Calling it an “unfortunate incident,” Harichandan told ANI over the phone that the state government is actively monitoring the situation. “Three people passed away due to suffocation in the large gathering. Six to seven people were injured, and their condition is now stable. The situation is under control, and people are now having darshan,” he said.
He added that Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP) has been dispatched to the site and that additional police personnel have been deployed to manage the crowd. The incident reportedly took place early Sunday morning after the chariots reached Saradhabali from the Jagannath Temple, a day after the grand Rath Yatra commenced.
The Minister, who is heading to Puri to oversee the situation, assured that “stringent action” will be taken if any lapses are found. “We are trying our best to manage the crowd. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. In a post on X, he called the incident a reflection of “glaring incompetence” in crowd management by the current administration.
“Eyewitnesses report that the initial response came from relatives of the victims, not from the government machinery,” Patnaik wrote, criticizing the authorities for failing to prevent such a disaster.
He further pointed out the delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day, calling the administration’s justification of it being “Mahaprabhu’s wish” a “shocking excuse” for what he termed an abdication of responsibility.
Calling for urgent reforms, Patnaik urged the government to take immediate corrective steps to ensure the safe conduct of the upcoming Adapa Bije, Bahuda Yatra, and Suna Besha rituals, which are part of the ongoing Jagannath Rath Yatra festivities.
