Bhubaneswar: In a tragic incident that cast a shadow over the Rath Yatra festivities in Puri, three devotees—two women and one man—lost their lives in a stampede that occurred early Sunday morning on Saradhabali, near the Gundicha Temple. The stampede reportedly took place around 4:00 AM, shortly after the ‘Pahuda’ ritual was opened for public darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on their chariots.
The deceased have been identified as Basanti Sahu (36) of Bolagarh in Nayagarh district, Premakant Mohanty of Bhubaneswar, and Pravati Das of Balipatna in Khurdha district. All three were part of the large gathering that had congregated to witness the sacred chariot rituals in the early hours of the day.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the stampede was triggered when a truck carrying Charamala wood unexpectedly entered the crowded area. At the time of the incident, more than 500 devotees were seated on plastic mats laid out on Saradhabali. The sudden intrusion of the vehicle created panic among the crowd, leading to a desperate scramble for safety that left over 50 devotees injured.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the incident, and appropriate action would be taken based on the findings.
“The Chief Minister has been apprised of the incident, and we are taking all necessary steps to prevent any recurrence,” the Minister said.
Director General of Police YB Khurania visited the site this morning and reviewed the situation. He has directed senior police officials to remain on-site and ensure proper crowd management and medical response for the injured. Emergency teams were immediately mobilised to transport the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
As thousands of devotees continue to arrive in Puri to participate in the ongoing Rath Yatra, authorities are now under pressure to reassess safety protocols and ensure tighter control of vehicular and crowd movement around the temple premises.
