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Hans India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Odisha BJP chief poll put on hold
Bhubaneswar: Hours after initiating a process for the election of its Odisha unit chief, the BJP on Sunday put it on hold in view of a stampede during the Rath Yatra festivities in Puri. Three persons, including two women, were killed and over 50 others injured in the stampede near Shree Gundicha temple early on Sunday. Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi, who has been appointed as the State returning officer for the party's organisational poll, said that the election for both State president and national council members from Odisha has been 'put on hold'. An unfortunate incident took place in Puri, and three devotees lost their lives, and many others are undergoing treatment, Sarangi said. 'Such a tragic incident has disturbed all of us. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased devotees,' he said. 'In view of the stampede, the elections of the State president and national council members from Odisha, which were scheduled to be held on July 1, have been put on hold,' he said. Information about the election will be shared later, said Sarangi.
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Fresh wake-up call to boost security at congregations
It was a tragic Sunday for three pilgrims, including two women, who lost their lives in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple during a ceremony pertaining to the Rath Yatra festivities. It is rather unfortunate that lessons have not been learnt from past experiences. The Puri episode is not an isolated case. Alas, the authorities, especially those organising festivities of a high magnitude, apparently do not understand the relevance of the 'once bitten twice shy' sermons. India is a country where millions flock to venues where massive rituals are organised, perhaps in the fond hope of getting spiritual bliss and moments of peace away from the rough and tumble of everyday problems and stress-causing happenings. It is this divine rejuvenation that draws them, especially the disturbed minds, to religious events. What is baffling is that despite many fatal incidents being reported from time to time, the authorities keep their eyes, and ears, closed as if it was business as usual. To put it more bluntly, they lack a humane mindset as they seem unmoved by fatalities in major public events, although most of the horrific incidents were largely because of their own incompetence. If human lives were so dear to them, nay the government of the day, they could come up with measures that help avoid these tragedies. Instead of mending their approaches, the authorities just indulge in the dubious blame-game and do precious little thereafter. This is even though fatal stampedes have become commonplace. It is quite possible that the governments do not bother about chalking out effective alternative fool-proof solutions because it is the faces in the crowd, the man in the street, who get killed but not any VVIP. One wonders what these lethargic officials do if, God forbid, a celebrity or top leader falls victim in such tragic incidents. Of course, the government of the day comes up with lame excuses like 'the crowd turnout was unparalleled this time' and announce compensations to the grieving kin of the victim, while subsequently making a scapegoat of a low-ranking officer for the tragedy. They never accept their follies like woeful crowd management shortcomings and insipid security apparatus. Stampedes, including non-religious congregations, have turned deadly across years and decades like during the satsang at Hathras; at the famed Mata Vaishno Devi shrine; at a bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river during 'Pushkaram' festival in Rajahmundry; Navratri festivities near Ratangarh temple in Datia district; during the Chhath Puja on the banks of river Ganga in Patna; in Haridwar on the banks of the Ganga river; at least 104 Sabarimala devotees were killed in a stampede when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims at Pulmedu; at Ram Janki temple of Kripalu Maharaj in UP's Pratapgarh district, while nearly 250 devotees were killed in a stampede following rumours of a bomb going off at Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur. Meanwhile, the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has 'magnanimously' transferred the District Collector and SP while also suspending a DCP and a Commandant, who he squarely blamed for the Puri fracas. It is debatable if such a 'punishment' will serve any purpose and ensure that man-made calamities do not strike into the future. After all, Indians lack discipline when it comes to having darshan of the deity, which inevitably leads to unmanageable chaos. Majhi's punishment makes one wonder if it is the same land where Lal Bahadur Shastri and Madhavrao Scindia had resigned as railway and civil aviation ministers, respectively, owning moral responsibility for accidents that happened during their tenure.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Day after stampede, thousands make beeline to have glimpse of sibling deities in Puri
PURI: A day after three people were killed and 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri, thousands of devotees on Tuesday made a beeline to have a darshan of the sibling deities, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. In view of Sunday's incident, barricades have been erected in front of the Shree Gundicha temple and different queues made for the smooth darshan of the deities at 'Adapa Mandap' (the podium on which the deities are seated) situated inside the temple, a senior police officer said. "We are alert. By the grace of the Lord, everything is running smoothly. Devotees are entering the Shree Gundicha Temple without any hassle," said Soumendra Priyadarshi, an ADG-rank IPS officer who has been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the police arrangement during Rath Yatra. He was assigned the task by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi after the stampede. Devotees believe that they can wash away their sins if they have darshan of Lord Jagannath atop the 'Adapa Mandap'. At least three persons, including two women, were killed and around 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri on Sunday morning during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, officials said. The incident took place around 4.20 am when thousands of devotees had gathered near the chariots parked in front of the temple, they said.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Day after stampede, thousands gather to worship deities in Puri
A day after three people were killed and 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri, thousands of devotees on Tuesday made a beeline to have a darshan of the sibling deities -- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. In view of Monday's incident, barricades have been erected in front of the Shree Gundicha temple and different queues made for the smooth darshan of the deities at 'Adapa Mandap' (the podium on which the deities are seated) situated inside the temple, a senior police officer said. "We are alert... by the grace of the Lord, everything is running smoothly. Devotees are entering the Shree Gundicha Temple without any hassle," said Soumendra Priyadarshi, an ADG-rank IPS officer who has been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the police arrangement during Rath Yatra. He was assigned the task by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi after the stampede. Devotees believe that they can wash away their sins if they have darshan of Lord Jagannath atop the 'Adapa Mandap'. At least three persons, including two women, were killed and around 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri on Sunday morning during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, officials said. The incident took place around 4.20 am when thousands of devotees had gathered near the chariots parked in front of the temple, they said.
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Day after stampede, thousands make beeline to have glimpse of sibling deities in Puri
'We are alert… by the grace of the Lord, everything is running smoothly. Devotees are entering the Shree Gundicha Temple without any hassle,' said Soumendra Priyadarshi, an ADG-rank IPS officer who has been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the police arrangement during Rath Yatra. In view of Sunday's incident, barricades have been erected in front of the Shree Gundicha temple and different queues made for the smooth darshan of the deities at 'Adapa Mandap' (the podium on which the deities are seated) situated inside the temple, a senior police officer said. Puri (Odisha), Jun 30 (PTI) A day after three people were killed and 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri, thousands of devotees on Monday made a beeline to have a darshan of the sibling deities — Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. He was assigned the task by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi after the stampede. Devotees believe that they can wash away their sins if they have darshan of Lord Jagannath atop the 'Adapa Mandap'. At least three persons, including two women, were killed and around 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha temple in Puri on Sunday morning during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, officials said. The incident took place around 4.20 am when thousands of devotees had gathered near the chariots parked in front of the temple, they said. PTI AAM AAM ACD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
