Rath Yatra stampede near Gundicha Temple leaves 3 dead, scores injured

A tragic stampede during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, claimed three lives and left over 50 injured early Sunday morning. The incident occurred between 4 and 5 am near the Gundicha Temple, where thousands had assembled for the sacred rituals. Initial reports suggest the chaos erupted after two trucks carrying ceremonial items entered an already crowded section.

Authorities confirmed the identities of the deceased as Premakant Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42). Although officials later regained control of the situation, the calamity sparked outrage over what many described as lapses in planning and safety arrangements.

The Odisha government has launched a probe into the incident. Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania was dispatched to assess the situation on the ground. Notably, this marks the first fatal stampede near the Gundicha Temple in the history of the Rath Yatra.

Eyewitnesses describe panic and poor handling

Eyewitnesses shared harrowing accounts of confusion and disorder. Swadhin Kumar Panda, a local, recounted: “I was there near the temple till 23 am last night, but the management was not good. A new way was made for VIPs, and common people were asked to exit from a distance. People started exiting from the entrance itself, which increased the crowd.”

He further noted that restricted zones had been breached by unauthorised vehicles. “There was no police or administration present at night… The Odisha administration is responsible for this,” he said. Another mourner who lost his wife in the chaos said help was painfully slow to arrive. “This is a pathetic incident that cannot be expressed,” he stated.

Government confirms fatalities, vows strict measures

Confirming the loss of lives, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told ANI: “It is an unfortunate incident. We are taking note of that. I spoke with the CM this morning. We are taking stringent action.” He said six to seven people were seriously hurt in addition to the three fatalities.

He assured that crowd control measures had been reinforced. “The situation is now under control and the people are having darshan,” he added. Harichandan said more personnel had been deployed and pledged to stay closely involved with the efforts to ensure safety. “We are trying our best to manage the crowd,” he said.

Former CM calls out administrative failure

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik issued a scathing critique of the present regime's handling of the event. “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,” he wrote on X.

Patnaik also pointed out that the initial response came not from the authorities, but from those accompanying the victims. “While I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy,” he added, while calling for urgent steps to prevent chaos during upcoming rituals like Adapa Bije and Bahuda Yatra.

Trucks entering congested zone trigger deadly crush

Witnesses said the stampede was triggered when two trucks loaded with ritual paraphernalia tried to move through the densely packed area near the chariots. Chinmay Patra, who witnessed the mayhem, observed: “The narrow congregation site, combined with limited police presence and scattered palm log ladders near the chariots, created hazardous conditions for devotees.”

The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra had arrived at the Gundicha Temple on Saturday, a day after the main event began. According to Debasis Das, a resident, the procession had already faced delays due to overcrowding. “Sunday’s tragedy was a devastating repeat,” he said.

Rising toll of exhaustion and heat-related illnesses

A day before the stampede, hundreds were already showing signs of distress. Over 750 people reportedly fell ill from heat and exhaustion amid the swelling crowds. Hospitals struggled to cope as 230 patients were taken to the Infectious Disease Hospital and another 520 to the district headquarters hospital. Of these, 12 were placed in intensive care, with one critically ill person shifted to SCB Medical College in Cuttack.