Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday apologised to the devotees of Lord Jagannath following a tragic stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri that claimed at least three lives and left around 50 others injured.
Expressing remorse, Majhi said in a statement on X, “I and my government seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees. We express our condolences to the families of devotees who lost their lives... We pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to grant them the strength to bear this profound sorrow.”
The stampede occurred in the early hours of Sunday, around 4 a.m., as thousands of devotees had gathered near the temple to witness the annual Rath Yatra celebrations. The situation reportedly turned chaotic near the halted chariots of the deities, leading to a sudden surge in the crowd.
The Chief Minister described the incident as an "unforgivable" lapse and announced an immediate investigation. “This negligence is unforgivable. An immediate investigation into the security lapses will be conducted, and I have directed that necessary steps be taken to initiate exemplary action against those responsible,” he said.
According to officials, at least six of the injured are in critical condition and have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The tragedy has sparked sharp political reactions, with opposition parties slamming the state administration for poor planning and crowd mismanagement during one of the biggest religious events in the country.
Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das criticised the arrangements and claimed the event had lost its devotee-centric spirit. “There were a lot of people this time. But the way the chariot of Lord Jagannath was not moving forward, enough efforts were not made... VIPs came between God and devotees... Those who are responsible should be punished,” Das said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed anguish over the incident. In a post on X, he wrote, “I am deeply pained by the stampede during the Mahaprabhu Jagannath Rath Yatra, which claimed three lives and injured at least 50 people. This tragedy follows reports of 500 devotees being injured on Friday during the yatra.”
Kharge added, “The negligence and mismanagement that led to this tragedy are inexcusable. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured devotees.”
Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik, while offering condolences, also criticised the government for failing to ensure a safe environment for pilgrims. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who have lost their lives in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali, Puri. I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha for the swift recovery of the devotees injured in this devastating incident,” he posted. Patnaik further alleged that the incident reflected the government’s “glaring incompetence” in managing such a significant religious event.
The annual Rath Yatra in Puri, which attracts lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad, involves the ceremonial pulling of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
