PURI, June 29: In the wake of a tragic stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra that claimed at least three lives early Sunday morning, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the suspension of Puri DCP Bishnu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi, citing gross security failure during the mega religious event.
The incident occurred around 4 am near the Gundicha Temple, where a sea of devotees had gathered in the pre-dawn hours for a glimpse of the deities on the holy chariots. Officials said the chaos broke out when ritual materials were being transported by two trucks, which entered the tightly packed crowd area, triggering panic and a deadly rush.
Expressing grief over the loss of life, Chief Minister Majhi posted an emotional message on social media platform X:
“Due to the intense eagerness among devotees to have a glimpse of Mahaprabhu at Sharadhabali, an unfortunate incident occurred because of the resulting jostling and chaos. Personally, my government and I seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees. We express our condolences to the families of those devotees whose lives were lost at Sharadhabali and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to grant them the strength to bear this profound sorrow.”
In addition to the suspensions, District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vineet Agrawal were transferred, and Majhi confirmed that an investigation has been ordered to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the security lapses.
The Odisha Director General of Police YB Khurania confirmed that a detailed probe is underway. “The incident is being treated with utmost seriousness. We are reviewing all layers of security and crowd management measures that were in place this morning,” the DGP said.
The annual Rath Yatra, which began on Friday, drew exceptionally large crowds this year, reportedly exceeding previous attendance figures. Devotees throng to pull the grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple—a symbolic journey undertaken once every year.
This year, the dense footfall and lack of effective crowd barriers near Sharadhabali—a ceremonial space in front of the chariots—may have aggravated the situation, eyewitnesses told local media.
The three deities traditionally reside at the Gundicha Temple for a week before returning to their original abode, marking the completion of the yatra.
As the state reels under the emotional weight of the mishap, calls for enhanced planning, better coordination between civil and police authorities, and infrastructure reforms for handling future Rath Yatra gatherings have grown louder. The Odisha government has assured that stringent action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
