Development commissioner Garg submits Puri stampede probe report to CM Majhi
The report comes after a month-long investigation into the tragic incident that resulted in the loss of three lives including two women devotees. The chief minister ordered an administrative inquiry into incident on June 30, hours after the stampede occurred in the wee hours of the day due to massive crowding at the Gundicha temple for darshan of Lord Jagannath.
The inquiry led by Garg was asked to submit a report within a month. She was tasked to find out the reason behind the incident and suggest measures that can be taken so that such mishaps do not repeat in future.
While findings of the inquiry has not been revealed, it is expected that the report may have pointed to significant security lapses, lack of coordination of temple administration with servitors on fixing timings for darshan and lapses on the part of the district administration in crowd management, which led to the mishap.
The state government is likely to take further action based on the findings and recommendations outlined in the report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Odisha decentralises food policy approvals, extends check dam scheme and amends GST rules
BHUBANESWAR: In a significant move to decentralise the decision-making process in the food processing sector, the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday approved the MSME department's proposal for enhancing the administrative authority for according approval of fiscal incentive claims under the Odisha Food Processing Policy 2016. Under the amended provision, the state-level committee (SLC) with MSME secretary as chairperson has been authorised to approve fiscal incentive claims of the promoter on an investment in plant machinery of more than Rs 10 to Rs 50 crore. Prior to these policy changes, the secretary had the limitation to consider and accord approval of incentives for more than Rs 25 lakh up to Rs 1 crore. Briefing mediapersons on the cabinet decisions, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja said five proposals of four departments were approved. The MSME department proposed to bring some amendments in the Odisha Food Processing Policy 2016 to simplify the process of administration/approval of fiscal incentive in line with corresponding provisions of the new version of the food processing policy made effective from September 30, 2022. He said previously, there were three committees. The state directorate-level committee (SDLC) under chairmanship of director of Industries had the power to accord approval of incentives up to Rs 25 lakh while the sub-committee of the state-level empowered committee (SLEC) under chairmanship of MSME secretary had the capacity to approve incentives of more than Rs 25 lakh up to Rs 1 crore. The SLEC headed by chief secretary was approving incentives for more than Rs 1 crore. With this amendment, now there will be three committees - the district level committee (DLC) headed by district collector which can approve incentives on investment in plant and machinery up to Rs 1 crore, SDLC for investment of more than Rs 1 crore up to Rs 10 crore and SLC for investment of more than Rs 10 crore up to Rs 50 crore.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Amid a spate of violent crimes against women, TOI takes a closer look at the steps and initiatives the Odhisha govt is rolling out to safeguard its daughters
BHUBANESWAR: At the launch of a women-safety initiative recently, CM Mohan Charan Majhi vowed a 'non-negotiable policy for women's protection and dignity.' It was no routine political statement. His words came at a time when reports of violent crimes against women have surfaced across the state. Faced with this situation, the state govt has rolled out several measures to confront rising fear, even as official crime data suggests a marginal decline. Odisha police records show 28,800 cases of crimes against women between June 2024 and April 2025, compared to 29,539 cases in the same period a year earlier — a drop of 2.5%. But the brutality of recent incidents has eclipsed the statistics, sparking a deeper conversation about safety, accountability and institutional failure. The gang-rape of a 20-year-old student by 10 men at Gopalpur beach in June shocked the entire state. Barely a month later, a college student in Balasore set herself ablaze after repeated complaints of sexual harassment against her department head went unanswered. The tragedy ignited student protests across Odisha and pushed the state to announce Shaktishree on July 19, a programme aimed at ensuring the safety of girl students in higher educational institutions. 'Women's safety should top the agenda of every govt,' the father of the Balasore college student told TOI. 'However, we need strict implementation of the project at ground zero to prevent Gopalpur and Balasore-like tragedies,' he added. A ctivists believe the outrage is a moment of reckoning. 'These incidents have left a deep scar on our collective conscience,' women's safety campaigner Maheswata Nanda said. 'While official statistics might show a marginal decrease in crime rates, the nature of recent crimes indicates a troubling pattern of institutional failure and social degradation,' she added. Police said they have pulled up their socks. 'Women's safety has been our focus area. SPs and DCPs have been instructed to show zero tolerance,' DGP Y B Khurania said. Another senior officer noted, 'Numbers cannot capture the impact of such horrific crimes. We have directed all police stations to treat every complaint with utmost seriousness. Any lapse will not be tolerated.' Experts caution, however, that policing alone cannot solve the crisis. 'We need to address the root causes — the way we raise our children, the messages we send through our actions and the values we instil,' Madhusmita Mohanty, a retired DSP, said. The govt has since announced more measures: increased police presence in vulnerable areas, tighter inter-department coordination during emergencies, and directives to district administrations and urban local bodies to display prominent boards. The women and child development department ordered all internal committees to be onboarded onto the She-Box portal ( ), a single-window platform for sexual harassment complaints at workplaces. 'Unlike previous govts, we are fully committed and focused on women's safety,' deputy CM Pravati Parida said. Opposition parties remain unconvinced, demanding the CM's resignation. But they too faced embarrassment after Congress student wing leader Udit Pradhan and BJD corporator Amaresh Jena were booked in separate rape cases. As Odisha grapples with these challenges, activists say the coming months will test whether initiatives like Shaktishree can deliver lasting change. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Odisha govt to reconstitute Jagannath temple management panel before Ratna Bhandar inventory: Min
'We will soon reconstitute the SJTMC, which will permit to carry out the inventory of Lord Jagannath's valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar. The valuables, including gold, diamonds and other items, are currently stored in a temporary strong room within the temple premises,' Harichandan told reporters. This was said by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, while replying to queries on the delay in initiating the inventory of Ratna Bhandar valuables. Bhubaneswar, Aug 1 (PTI) The Odisha government on Friday said it would soon reconstitute the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), paving the way for a long-pending inventory of Lord Jagannath's valuables in the presence of representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The minister informed that the RBI has nominated two experts to participate in the much-awaited inventory process of the temple's treasure trove. 'Once the items are moved from the strong rooms to the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar, we will notify the RBI of the schedule. The inventory will then be conducted in the presence of the nominated officials,' the minister added. The last full inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was carried out 46 years ago in 1978. The SJTMC plays a key role in overseeing the affairs of the 12th-century shrine. The committee, constituted under the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, has 18 members out of which 10 are nominated by the government. The remaining include ex-officio members, with Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb serving as the permanent chairperson. However, the state government has not nominated members for the last 10 months. The term of the previous members was over on September 2, 2024. 'Thereafter, the government has not made the nominations. Now that the Rath Yatra is over, we are hoping the government will soon nominate members to the SJTMC,' Gajapati Maharaj recently told PTI. 'It is necessary in the interest of the smooth and efficient management of the affairs of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri,' he added. PTI AAM AAM MNB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
