Puri stampede: Eyewitnesses report no government machinery present to manage surging crowds, says Naveen Patnaik
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while commenting on the tragic
Puri stampede
, said that he extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, adding that eyewitnesses have reported the absence of government machinery to manage the surging crowd.
"Eyewitnesses report that the initial response to this horrific tragedy came from the devotees' relatives, with no government machinery present to manage the surging crowds, highlighting a shocking lapse in duty. The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on
Rath Yatra
day was conveniently attributed to 'Mahaprabhu's wish', a shocking excuse that masks the administration's complete abdication of responsibility," said the former Odisha CM.
"Today's stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the #RathYatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the government's glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees," added Patnaik in a post on X.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Play War Thunder now for free
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
Patnaik said, "While I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy." He urged the government to implement urgent corrective measures to ensure the smooth conduct of Adapa Bije, Bahuda, Suna Besha, and other key Rath Yatra rituals.
Puri stampede:
At least three persons were killed and around 50 others injured in a stampede that took place near Shree Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri on Sunday morning, a senior official said.
Live Events
The incident took place around 4 am when hundreds of devotees gathered near the temple to witness Rath Yatra festivities, Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain said.
Chaos ensued after two trucks carrying materials for rituals reportedly entered the crowded spot near the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities, officials said.
The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, and the condition of six people is critical, he said.
The deceased were identified as Basanti Sahu from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty and Pravati Das from Balipatna.
The bodies have been sent for postmortem and an investigation is underway.
DGP Y B Khurania and senior government officials are at the spot to take stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said he has apprised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi about the incident.
'We will take all the necessary action,' Harichandan said.
The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra had on Saturday reached Shree Gundicha Temple, a day after the Rath Yatra began in Puri.
The temple is considered the aunt's place of the deities, which go there every year from the 12th-century Jagannath temple, situated at a distance of 2.6 km, as part of the rituals.
The return car journey, known as 'Bahuda Yatra', will held this year on 5 July.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Oppn alleges admn incompetence, undue favour to BJP workers; BJP counters
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Leader of opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Sunday termed the stampede in Puri as a glaring incompetence by the govt in crowd management, while Congress attributed it to undue favour shown to BJP workers to gather around chariots. "Today's stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the Rath Yatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the govt's glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees," Naveen wrote on X. Quoting eyewitness reports, he added that the initial response to the tragedy came from the devotees' relatives, with no govt machinery present to manage the surging crowds, highlighting a shocking lapse in duty. "The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day was conveniently attributed to 'Mahaprabhu's Wish', a shocking excuse that masks the administration's complete abdication of responsibility. While I refrain from accusing the govt of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness undeniably contributed to this tragedy. I urge the govt to implement urgent corrective measures to ensure the smooth conduct of Adapa Bije, Bahuda, Suna Besha and other key #RathYatra rituals," Naveen wrote. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He said, "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who 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." Echoing him, state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said the entire arrangement for the festival, including security, was VVIP- and BJP worker-centric. "It should have been devotee-centric, but it was not so. Thousands of BJP workers from all over the country made unauthorised entry close to the chariot perimeter, swelling the crowd and pushing other devotees to the brink. Uncountable delegates made their way into the VVIP dais as well. It is highly condemnable," Das said. BJP countered the opposition allegations and said that strong action was taken against the negligent officers and more action is awaited as an inquiry is underway. "The incident is being thoroughly probed. All lapses will be identified and negligence will not be viewed lightly," law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told the media.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
CM: Govt settled site debate by setting up 3 nat'l law univs
Nagpur: CM Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Maharashtra govt under him took the historic decision of setting up three national law universities (NLUs)—at Mumbai, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar—to settle the debate over its location nearly a decade ago. He pointed out that no state in the country has such an arrangement, Fadnavis highlighted the role played by then CJI Sharad Bobde as well as CJI Bhushan Gavai, then with the Nagpur bench of Bombay HC, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, and himself in chalking out a plan for bringing Maharashtra NLU to Nagpur. In a lighter vein, Fadnavis said he witnessed the growth of MNLU in different capacities—as CM, leader of opposition, deputy CM and then CM again. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The university began functioning in July 2016. Fadnavis said it is equipped with all facilities for quality education. "The surrounding environment enhances the natural beauty of the campus. Funds have been allocated for the university in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and land has been selected for the Mumbai campus. In the coming years, all three universities will operate at full capacity," he said at the inauguration of the new administrative block of MNLU in Nagpur on Sunday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nuova CUPRA Formentor e-HYBRID CUPRA Configura Auto Undo "Students [from the three universities] should achieve success on a global stage. Three significant pre-Independence laws have been amended; not merely renamed but Indianised. These changes will enable the use of new technology, speed up judicial processes and increase conviction rates," said Fadnavis. As India becomes the world's fourth largest economy, the CM said, swift resolution of commercial and investment-related cases is essential to attract investment. "India's Constitution is the finest, establishing an ideal as a sustainable value. To face the challenges of a changing world, students have no better platform than this university. Challenges like cybercrime and cyber breaches exist, but artificial intelligence offers opportunities. Students must take responsibility for bringing positive changes to the legal field through technology." Putting the onus on teachers, he said the university should now provide education in innovation, creativity and modern processes, alongside academics. "Govt will fully support all initiatives to make this university the best and self-sufficient." Acknowledging Fadnavis's efforts in establishing the university and its modern facilities, Union minister Gadkari said this will lead to the institution's qualitative growth. "Updating knowledge is crucial, and this university will set an excellent example. Knowledge is a great power that must be transformed into wealth. By leveraging modern technologies like digital advancements, the university should achieve commendable performance globally," he said. Gadkari praised the institution's innovative policy and design, highlighting its vision and the potential of its bright, upcoming students.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Yunus unlikely to hold B'desh polls soon, says Hasina aide
Kolkata: Sheikh Hasina aide Obaidul Quader said it was unlikely the interim govt in Bangladesh, led by Muhammed Yunus, would hold a general election anytime soon. The general secretary of Awami League in exile in India further said that Awami League workers were holding political programmes in Bangladesh despite the interim govt's restrictive orders against the party. Speaking in Kolkata, Quader said, "We have command politics in Bangladesh, and it will fail as the command economy has failed. We don't think Yunus is interested in holding an election anytime soon. His associates and allied fundamentalist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP (National Citizen Party) do not want an election. If Awami League can take part in a free and fair poll, it will make a big impact." "People are disillusioned with the breakdown of the administrative machinery in Bangladesh. There is an upsurge in the support base of Sheikh Hasina. Prices of essentials are rising, the law and order situation has deteriorated and money laundering has increased in Bangladesh. Bank deposits have gone down significantly, while deposits in Swiss banks have increased to a large extent," Quader added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata He said every political force in Bangladesh had united against Awami League, pointing to a meeting between Yunus and Tarique Rehman, acting chairman of BNP and son of former PM Khaleda Zia, in London. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo "They had a closed-door meeting for over 40 minutes. All of them are against Awami League now. Everywhere he (Yunus) has been blaming Awami League and India for his failures. He is trying to hyphenate India and Awami League. Bangladesh-India bilateral relations are suffering," he said further. Talking about the students' upsurge in Bangladesh which led to Hasina's ouster, Quader said it wasn't a "mass upsurge" but a "mob upsurge" where "radicals, terrorists, militants and religious extremists joined hands to overthrow an elected regime." On the interim govt banning Awami League's political activities following amendments to the country's anti-terrorism law, Quader said, "Awami League was banned before 1971 too. The ban on the party's programme has given renewed strength to workers. Our activists are organising meetings and protests in violation of govt orders. They cannot be repressed anymore." He added that Hasina had been talking to activists at the grassroots-level and had so far spoken to nearly 60 organisational districts. "Since June 23, our party workers in Bangladesh have taken up a month-long programme to celebrate the party's foundation day," he said.
