A tragic stampede during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri claimed the lives of three people, including two women, and left ten others injured. The incident took place early Sunday morning as the ceremonial chariots reached Shree Gundicha Temple, roughly three kilometers from the Jagannath Temple, where the procession began.
The mishap occurred around 4:30 am when large crowds surged forward to catch a glimpse of the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra—on their way to the Gundicha Temple. Amid the rush, several individuals reportedly stumbled, triggering a stampede. Three pilgrims—identified as Prabhati Das, Basanti Sahu, and 70-year-old Premakant Mohanty, all from Khurda district—died on the spot.
Local media have pointed to insufficient crowd management by the authorities as a contributing factor. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain confirmed that the bodies have been sent for autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. He also maintained that security arrangements were in place but acknowledged that the crowd became uncontrollable, resulting in the tragedy.
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The Rath Yatra, a major religious event in Odisha, involves the transport of the idols of the three deities on grand chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they remain for a week before returning to the Jagannath Temple. The event draws massive crowds every year.
In the wake of the incident, political tensions have escalated. Former Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik described the situation as a “terrible mess” and urged divine forgiveness for those responsible. Meanwhile, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, without naming Patnaik, accused the BJD of politicizing the issue and reminded that under the former government, lapses had occurred too, noting that since 1977, the chariots have consistently reached Gundicha Temple on the second day.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over what is otherwise one of the state’s most revered festivals.
