&w=3840&q=100)
3 killed, 50 injured in stampede during Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri
At least three devotees were reportedly killed and 50 injured after a stampede-like situation broke out during the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri in the early hours of Sunday.
According to a report by OTV, the incident happened at Saradhabali near Gundicha Temple where the three chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath are stationed.
Around 4 am today, a large crowd had reportedly gathered near the Gundicha temple for darshan. This led to a commotion, killing three people on the spot. The report also said that two trucks carrying charmala (ceremonial garlands) entered the area, causing panic among the large number of devotees present. The deceased have been identified as Prabhati Das, Basanti Sahu, and Premakanta Mohanty. The bodies have been sent for postmortem and an investigation is underway. According to Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain, the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital. The situation of at least six injured people is critical, he told news agency PTI.
Speaking to ANI, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, "It is an unfortunate incident. We are taking note of that. I spoke with the CM this morning. We are taking stringent action."
"We are trying our best to manage the crowd. Additional police have been deployed. The reasons for the incident are being investigated. The situation is now under control and the people are having darshan," he added.
Eyewitness speaks
"I was there near the temple till 2-3 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. The traffic system was also not good, as many vehicles with unauthorised passes came near the temple. The administration did not control the crowd properly. The biggest problem was the exit gate," an eyewitness told news agency ANI.
Rath Yatra hit by overcrowding, heat
The ongoing Rath Yatra has faced persistent issues with overcrowding and extreme weather conditions. On Friday, June 27, nearly 625 people fell ill and many had to be admitted to hospitals due to sweltering heat and overcrowding.
According to PTI, many devotees were also injured near Balagandi area where Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot remained stuck for over an hour on Friday.
"The prolonged halt led to a dense buildup of crowd, resulting in several people getting trapped and sustained injuries while trying to get out of the congested area," PTI quoted an official as saying.
The three chariots were scheduled to reach Gundicha temple by the evening of Friday. But they had to be stopped on Grand Road as Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot got stuck while taking a turn, preventing the other two from advancing.
The chariots with deities inside were kept on the road overnight amid tight security.
Former CM criticises 'terrible mess'
Former chief minister Naveen Patnaik calling the delay a "terrible mess", saying it was impossible not to voice concern over how events unfolded.
In a social media post, the former chief minister said, "All we can do is pray. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath forgive all those responsible for the terrible mess that has overshadowed this divine festival this year." (With inputs from agencies)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Puri Stampede: Odisha Chief Minister Orders Administrative Overhaul
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday ordered a major administrative shake-up following the stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri which claimed three lives and left around 50 people injured. With several crucial Rath Yatra events approaching, the CM has reassigned experienced IAS and IPS officers to ensure tighter coordination and public safety. In a decisive move, ADG (Police Modernisation) SK Priyadarshi has been placed in overall charge of police arrangements for the Rath Yatra and related rituals in addition to his existing responsibilities, an official said. Further strengthening the top administrative structure, senior bureaucrat Saswata Mishra has been appointed as Principal Secretary to the CM, a post lying vacant since Nikunja Dhal proceeded on central deputation. Mishra will also continue as Principal Secretary, Finance Department, and Chairman, IDCO. The CM has also engaged former Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal as the overall in-charge of the Rath Yatra. The administrative action came swiftly after the stampede sparked nationwide outrage. Within hours, Puri Collector Siddharth Sekhar Swain and Puri SP Vinit Agarwal were removed from their posts. Additionally, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended from service. DIG STF Pinak Mishra has been appointed as the new Puri SP. Despite his promotion to DIG rank, Mishra has been directed to function as SP during the Yatra, citing the critical nature of the role. Sources confirmed he assumed charge within hours of the transfer order. To ensure full transparency, Majhi has ordered an administrative inquiry into the incident, to be conducted by Development Commissioner Anu Garg, a senior officer known for her firm administrative approach. The inquiry will aim to determine lapses and recommend corrective measures. Some of the most significant upcoming events are Sandhya Darshan (evening darshan) on July 4, Bahuda Jatra (return car festival) on July 5, Suna Besa (golden attire of deities on chariots) on July 6 and Niladeri Bije (deities return to main temple) on July 8. These events attract lakhs of devotees, with the Suna Besa expected to draw maximum people. "The congregation may exceed 15 lakh people this year for the Suna Besa," a temple official said.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Pune Shocker! Self-styled godman tells visitors to download app, spies on them after asking to engage in 'obscene act'
A self-proclaimed godman, identified as Prasad Bhimrao Tamdar, was arrested by Pimpri Chinchwad Police for allegedly practising black magic, cheating people and secretly keeping a watch on them through a mobile phone, PTI quoted a senior police official as saying. According to the police, the accused was running an ashram in the Bavdhan area under the Pimpri-Chinchwad police area, where he claimed to provide solutions to various issues of people through astrology and black magic. The police added that Tamdar would ask his visitors to download an app on their mobiles that would give him access to their phones. Following this, he would then ask his visitors to engage in sexual acts with women, including sex workers and he watched secretly on his phone. District Commissioner of Police (DCP), Bapu Bangar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police said that four complaints had been filed against the accused. Tamdar has been arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Aghori practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. Further investigation is underway. On 12 June, the Chhattisgarh Police had booked 21 individuals in Raipur for allegedly detaining and assaulting three people on the suspicion of practising black magic. As per the details, the incident occurred on the night of 13 March during Holika Dahan celebrations. However, no FIR was registered till 9 June. After a directive from a local court in Raipur, the FIR was registered. In the complaint, the victims identified as Tilak Sahu, Naresh Sahu and Amar Singh Sahu alleged that the group of people held them hostage after suspecting that the victims were practising black magic at the crematorium of the village. The victims alleged that the accused looted their valuables, forced them to wear garlands made of slippers, smeared black colour on their faces, paraded them semi-naked through the village, rubbed chilli powder on bleeding wounds, and repeatedly tortured them even after they fell unconscious.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
From IEDs to Codex wires: Huge quantity of explosives seized in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan
Jun 29, 2025 10:06 PM IST Security forces seized a huge quantity of explosives from a Maoist dump in a forest in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district, a police officer said on Sunday. Security forces stumbled upon a dump set up by Maoists and seized the explosives.(PTI/ Representational) The explosives, including 500 electronic detonators, were seized from a Maoist dump set up in Gobargota forest near Raijama village, a statement issued by Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said. On receiving intelligence input, security forces comprising CRPF 60 battalion, Special Assault Team, and district armed forces launched a massive search operation in Gobargota forest and its vicinity. In the course of the operation, security forces stumbled upon a dump set up by Maoists and seized the explosives, which were meant to hinder anti-naxal operations as well as to target the personnel involved in it, the statement said. The security forces also seized five improvised explosive devices of 3 kg each, 14 numbers of IEDs of one kg each, 9 pieces of cane bomb (IED) of half kg each, and nine bundles of commercial codex wire. All the explosives were destroyed on the spot by the bomb disposal squad. A case under relevant sections of BNS, Explosive Act, UAP Act and CLA Act was registered in this regard, it added.
