‘Cops Fled To Save…': Puri Stampede Victims Share Ordeal, Question Crowd Control Measures

News18

10 hours ago

Last Updated:
Survivors and eyewitnesses of the tragic incident alleged that the police personnel ran to save their own lives instead of rescuing the fallen victims during the stampede.
Jagannath Rath Yatra Stampede: At least three people, including two women, died and nearly 50 others were injured in a stampede near Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri during the annual Rath Yatra on Sunday.
The stampede broke out around 4 am on Sunday as thousands of devotees gathered to have darshan of the deity when the chariots of sibling deities– Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra– reached Gundicha Temple.
As a result, several devotees fell over each other near the wheels of the chariot. The deceased have been identified as 36-year-old Basanti Sahu from Bolagarh, 42-year-old Pravati Das from Balipatna, and 80-year-old Premakant Mohanty, also from Balipatna.
Victims Accuse Cops Of Fleeing
Survivors and eyewitnesses of the tragic incident alleged that the police personnel ran to save their own lives instead of rescuing the fallen victims during the stampede.
A man who lost his wife in the incident said that not a single authority responded to the escalating situation in Puri.
'I watched in horror as police officers fled to protect themselves. My wife was unconscious, and I had to carry her to the hospital with help from other devotees. Police authorities who should have protected us were nowhere to be found," Dilip Sahu, husband of deceased Prabhati Sahu told Times of India.
Another victim said, 'When this incident happened, no one responded, neither the fire officials, nor the rescue team, nor the hospital team. This is a pathetic incident that cannot be expressed in words."
'There were hardly any police personnel visible despite the massive crowd. It was a Sunday, and the flow of devotees was growing. When people started falling and screaming, there was no organised response," another victim shared ordeal, the news outlet reported.
Parikhita Mishra, an eyewitness from Dhenkanal who narrowly escaped, blamed the administration for allowing two trucks carrying additional wooden ladders for the chariots.
As per the reports, the stampede reportedly began when two trucks carrying sacred ritual materials entered the already-crowded Saradhabali area near the temple. Devotees had been waiting since the early hours to witness the sacred 'Pahuda' ritual, during which the cloth covering the deities' faces is removed.
The unexpected entry of the trucks caused panic, pushing the crowd into disarray. Several people were trampled or suffocated in the chaos.
Santosh Das, a local and frequent temple visitor, criticised the consistent failures in crowd control. He observed that despite predictably large festival crowds each year, police never seem to improve their management, noting that only a handful of officers were present for thousands of devotees, making it impossible to keep order.
Swadhin Kumar Panda, a local resident, alleged poor crowd management and claimed that VIP routes were prioritised while the general public was diverted without proper planning. '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," he said.
Odisha CM Tenders Apology, Orders Probe
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi on Sunday sought forgiveness from devotees of Lord Jagannath after three devotees were killed and tendered an apology on behalf of his government for the incident and pledged strict action against those responsible for the lapses in crowd control and security arrangements.
Calling the incident 'unpardonable," Majhi assured that an immediate investigation would be initiated to identify the security failures.
Majhi also chaired a meeting with his deputies to asses the situation and ordered a full-fledged administrative inquiry to determine the cause and accountability of the incident.
The Chief Minister has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the next of kin of the devotees who lost their lives in the tragic incident. Expressing sorrow, Manjhi assured that the state government stands firmly with the bereaved families during this difficult time.
The investigation will be led by the Chairman of the Development Commissioner.
In response to the incident, Majhi ordered the transfer of both the Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vineet Agrawal. Two police officers – DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi – were suspended for negligence.
Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana was appointed the new Collector of Puri, while Pinak Mishra took over as SP. An administrative inquiry has also been launched under the supervision of the Development Commissioner.
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More
Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
Location :
Puri, India, India
First Published: