Stampede During Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri: 3 Dead, Over 50 Injured
Puri, Odisha – June 29, 2025: A tragic incident occurred during the famous Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri Odisha where a stampede led to the death of three devotees and left more than fifty injured The incident took place near the Gundicha Temple early in the morning when thousands of devotees had gathered to witness the holy chariot procession.
According to eyewitnesses the situation became chaotic when two trucks carrying materials for the festival tried to pass through an already overcrowded lane The narrow lanes around the Saradhabali area were packed with pilgrims and the sudden movement of the trucks triggered panic among the devotees People started pushing each other which resulted in a stampede
The three devotees who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident have been identified as Prabhati Das Basanti Sahu and seventy year old Premakant Mohanty all residents of the Khurda district They were caught in the heavy crowd and suffocated due to the pressure of the pushing crowd.
District Collector Siddharth S Swain confirmed that more than fifty devotees were injured in the incident Many of them were taken to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment Six of them are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying with people crying for help and others trying to save themselves One of the family members of a deceased victim said that there was no immediate help available from the authorities He added that neither the rescue team nor the fire department nor the hospital team responded on time which led to more suffering and chaos.
The Odisha government has announced that a detailed inquiry will be conducted to find out the cause of the incident and to take strict action against those responsible Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that the government is deeply saddened by the incident and will ensure that such tragedies do not happen in the future.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed his deep sorrow and criticized the current administration for poor management and lack of proper crowd control He stated that the government failed to provide enough safety measures during such a massive gathering of devotees.
This is not the first time the Rath Yatra has faced challenges related to crowd management Just two days before this tragic event around seven hundred and fifty devotees were hospitalized due to dehydration exhaustion and the huge rush of people This had already raised concerns about the safety arrangements for the festival.
The administration has now increased security and deployed more medical teams for the upcoming Bahuda Yatra which is the return journey of the chariots scheduled for July fifth Officials have promised better crowd control measures including restricted vehicle entry improved medical facilities and more volunteers to guide the crowd.
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the biggest religious festivals in India attracting lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad However this tragic incident has highlighted the urgent need for better planning and management during such large religious gatherings.
The families of the deceased are in deep shock and mourning while the injured are being treated with utmost care The state government has assured that compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased and the injured The investigation is ongoing and more details are expected to emerge soon.
This heartbreaking incident reminds us that while religious faith brings people together it is equally important to ensure the safety and well being of the devotees through proper arrangements and effective management.
