At least three devotees, including two women, lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in a stampede near the holy chariots of the Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri in the early hours of Sunday.
The tragedy unfolded around 4:30 a.m. near the Gundicha Temple, where thousands had gathered for a glimpse of the deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, whose chariots had halted overnight just three kilometres from the main Jagannath Temple.
The deceased were identified as Basanti Sahu from Bolagarh, Pravati Das of Balipatna, and Premakant Mohanty, a 70-year-old resident of Khurda district. All three had travelled to Puri for the annual chariot festival.
According to reports, the situation turned chaotic when darshan was temporarily suspended due to the Pahada ritual during which the deities are put to rest. When the ritual ended, devotees surged forward, leading to overcrowding and a stampede.
Eyewitnesses said the close positioning of the chariots left little room for movement, making it difficult for people to navigate the swelling crowd. As some devotees tripped and fell, panic spread quickly.
"We have received information about three deaths. The condition of six injured persons is stated to be stable,” said Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain.
Swain added that the bodies had been sent for post-mortem, and the exact cause of death would be ascertained through the autopsy. He claimed that adequate security arrangements had been made but acknowledged that the crowd became unmanageable.
The incident has raised serious concerns about crowd control during one of the largest religious gatherings in the country. Local media and several witnesses alleged that police presence was minimal during the critical night hours when many devotees thronged the site to avoid daytime heat.
“The government machinery was nowhere to be seen when the stampede occurred. Devotees and relatives of the victims had to step in first,” said one eyewitness.
This year’s Rath Yatra, held on Friday, 27 June, was marred by an unusual delay. Traditionally, the three chariots are pulled to the Gundicha Temple before sunset on the first day. However, this time, the pulling was halted after dark and resumed the following morning, with the deities still remaining on the chariots by Saturday night.
The delay reportedly prompted thousands to return late at night for darshan, leading to a midnight rush and eventual tragedy.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik lashed out at the BJP-led state government, holding it responsible for what he called "a terrible mess."
“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,” Patnaik said in a post on social media platform X.
He went on to describe the tragedy as a reflection of "glaring incompetence" and an "abdication of responsibility" by the administration. “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,” he said.
Criticising the delayed start of the Yatra, Patnaik said, “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 failure.”
While he refrained from accusing the government of criminal negligence, he said their "blatant callousness" had undeniably contributed to the tragedy.
There were also allegations that BJP ministers misused their positions to allow family members and supporters into the restricted inner cordon around the chariots, worsening the chaos.
In response, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, without naming Patnaik, hit back at the criticism, accusing the BJD of politicising the incident. “In the past, the BJD government made mistakes and insulted Lord Jagannath. Since 1977, the chariots have always reached the Gundicha Temple on the second day,” he said.
