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Puri Rath Yatra Stampede Claims 3 Lives, Ex CM Slams Govt’s Negligence

A stampede during Puri's Rath Yatra killed three devotees and injured several. Eyewitnesses blame poor crowd management, as former CM Naveen Patnaik slammed the Odisha government’s failure to control the situation and accused it of callousness.

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Puri Rath Yatra Stampede Claims 3 Lives, Ex CM Slams Govt’s Negligence

3 people were killed in a stampede early Sunday morning during the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, which occurs every year, revealing major lapses in crowd management. The stampede happened as thousands of pilgrims surged towards darshan in front of the packed chariots of the deities.

The accident, which happened in the midst of the mayhem after the lifting of the Pahada ritual, has raised scathing political allegations and serious concerns regarding administrative preparedness, with former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik terming it a “glaring incompetence” of the present government.

Puri Rath Yatra Claims 3 Lives

The stampede killed Basanti Sahu of Bolagarh, Premakant Mohanty, and Pravati Das of Balipatna. It occurred around 4 am when heavy congestion broke out after authorities lifted the Pahada ritual, during which the deities rest and darshan remains suspended.

This year’s Rath Yatra, held on June 27, faced significant logistical issues. For the first time in years, the chariots failed to reach the Gundicha Temple by sunset as per tradition.

Pulling resumed the next morning, but the deities remained on their chariots, prompting thousands of devotees to visit at night. The close positioning of the chariots only worsened the crowding.

“We have received information about three deaths. The condition of six injured persons is stable,” Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain confirmed.

Many relatives of victims and witnesses claimed that there was a lack of visible police presence at the time. Many people were accusing authorities of negligence. However, Puri SP Vinit Agrawal insisted that “adequate police deployment had been made around the chariots.”

Former CM Blames Gov for ‘Glaring Incompetence’

Former Odisha CMNaveen Patnaik took to X to express his condolences and criticize the current administration. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who have lost their lives in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali, Puri and I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha for the swift recovery of the devotees injured in this devastating incident,” Patnaik said.

Slamming the government, he added, “Today’s stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the Rath Yatra, exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees.”

Naveen Patnaik further claimed that there was “a shocking lapse in duty” as the first responders were not authorities. They were family members of victims. He also condemned the delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot, saying it was wrongly justified as “Mahaprabhu’s wish.”

Allegations have surfaced that BJP ministers misused their influence to gain access for their supporters to the inner cordon.