Tragic Stampede During Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha Leads to Official Actions

Overview of the Incident

In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi convened a meeting with his team following a tragic stampede that resulted in the deaths of three individuals during the Jagannath Rath Yatra on Sunday. As a consequence of the incident, Puri's Deputy Police Commissioner Bishnu Charan Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi were suspended, while Puri Collector Siddharth S Swain and SP Binit Agarwal were reassigned.

Details of the Stampede

The stampede occurred early Sunday morning near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri, claiming three lives and injuring several others. Odisha's Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan confirmed that the deceased—Basanti Sahu, Premakant Mohanty, and Pravati Das—succumbed to suffocation.

Investigation and Accountability

Minister Harichandan assured that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted to identify and penalize those responsible for any negligence that contributed to the tragedy.

Circumstances Surrounding the Stampede

The chaos began around 4 AM as devotees gathered for the unveiling of the deities on their chariots at the Gundicha Temple. The situation escalated when two trucks carrying Charamala wood entered the Saradhabali area, disrupting the orderly line of worshippers.

Witness Accounts of Poor Crowd Management

A local resident present during the stampede criticized the crowd management, stating that the newly established VIP entrance led to confusion. Common devotees were directed to exit from a distance, but many ended up exiting through the same entrance, exacerbating the crowding.

Ongoing Investigation by Odisha DGP

The Director General of Police in Odisha is currently investigating the incident. DGP YB Khurania visited the site to evaluate the situation and confirmed that additional police forces had been deployed.

Chief Minister's Response and Apology

During the meeting, Chief Minister Majhi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and apologized on behalf of the state government. He acknowledged the security failures that led to the incident and emphasized that those responsible would face strict consequences.

Criticism from Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal and former chief minister, extended his sympathies to the victims and criticized the government's handling of crowd management during the Rath Yatra. He described the incident as a reflection of the government's incompetence in ensuring a safe environment for the festival attendees.