A stampede at the Puri Rath Yatra claimed three lives and injured ten.

B O News Desk : Tragedy struck the sacred city of Puri in the early hours of Saturday as a stampede during the annual Rath Yatra claimed the lives of three devotees and left at least 10 others injured. The incident occurred near the Shree Gundicha Temple, approximately three kilometres from the main Jagannath Temple, as thousands of devotees gathered for a glimpse of the deities.

The deceased have been identified as 70-year-old Premakant Mohanty, and two women — Prabhati Das and Basanti Sahu — all hailing from Khurda district. They had travelled to Puri to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.

The stampede is believed to have occurred around 4:30 am, when the three majestic chariots carrying the idols reached the Gundicha Temple. Eyewitnesses said the crowd surged forward for darshan (viewing), leading to a sudden rush in which several devotees fell and were trampled. The three victims reportedly died on the spot.

Local media outlets have raised questions over the preparedness of the police and the adequacy of crowd control arrangements at the site. Some of those injured remain in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.

Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated that the victims’ bodies have been sent for post-mortem, which will help determine the exact cause of death. He added that while security arrangements had been made in advance, the crowd suddenly became unmanageable, triggering the unfortunate incident.

The Rath Yatra, one of the most revered religious festivals in Odisha, involves the ceremonial pulling of three massive chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. The deities stay at Gundicha for a week before returning in a similar procession.

The incident has sparked a political row, with opposition leaders blaming the current administration for mismanagement. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the situation as a “terrible mess” and offered prayers for peace. “All we can do is pray. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath forgive all those responsible for the terrible mess that has overshadowed this divine festival,” Patnaik said.

In response, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan took a veiled swipe at the BJD, accusing the party of politicising a tragedy. Without naming Patnaik, Harichandan said, “In the past, the BJD government made mistakes and insulted Lord Jagannath. Since 1977, the chariots have always reached the Gundicha Temple on the second day.”

As the sacred Rath Yatra continues under a cloud of mourning, authorities have promised an inquiry into the stampede and a review of safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

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