Odisha Government Addresses Devotee Deaths During Rath Yatra Festival

Rath Yatra Festival in Puri

Bhubaneswar, July 17: The Odisha government has confirmed the unfortunate deaths of two devotees during the annual Rath Yatra festival, while refuting claims of a stampede occurring. This year's festival took place in the revered coastal town of Puri, attracting a massive turnout of pilgrims from various regions, both nationally and internationally.

According to an official announcement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the renowned Ratha Yatra 2026, honoring Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath, Mahaprabhu Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshana, was celebrated on Thursday with great religious enthusiasm and effective administrative coordination.

Despite facing continuous rainfall and adverse weather conditions, the festival saw an impressive attendance of approximately eight to nine lakh devotees, showcasing their unwavering faith in the deities.

"All sacred rituals associated with the festival, including the pulling of the three chariots, were executed seamlessly and concluded as scheduled. Govardhan Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya also participated in the chariot prayers. The state government implemented thorough and layered arrangements to ensure the festival's success," the CMO stated.

The government highlighted that meticulous planning was conducted well ahead of time, involving various departments such as Police, Health, Fire Services, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Transport, Municipal Administration, Public Health Engineering, Energy, and others.

Continuous monitoring, sufficient security personnel deployment, extensive CCTV surveillance, public announcement systems, traffic management, sanitation efforts, drinking water provisions, emergency response teams, and medical facilities were all in place to ensure the safety and comfort of the attendees.

The Odisha government noted that given the unprecedented number of attendees and the ongoing rain, there were reports of fatigue, dehydration, suffocation, and minor health issues throughout the day.

"During the festival, seven individuals experienced health issues and were promptly evacuated by the personnel on duty and taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, one male devotee over 60 years old passed away, with the cause of death currently under investigation by the relevant authorities," the government reported.

Additionally, in a separate incident, a male devotee over 35 years old suffered a cardiac arrest and, despite immediate medical assistance, tragically passed away.

Many attendees also fell ill due to rain-related ailments and received medical care at hospitals, later being discharged after treatment.

"The overall management of the festival was peaceful, orderly, and well-organized. There were no incidents of stampede or failures in crowd management," the government clarified.

The collaborative efforts of the administration, security forces, servitors, and volunteers ensured the smooth movement of devotees.

The situation remained stable throughout the festival, with all essential services operating effectively.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his sincere gratitude to the servitors and thanked the millions of devotees for their patience, discipline, and cooperation, which significantly contributed to the peaceful and successful observance of the festival.

The Chief Minister reiterated the state government's steadfast commitment to ensuring that every devotee enjoys the sacred festival with safety, dignity, and convenience through ongoing enhancements in infrastructure, public services, and administrative readiness.