🇮🇳 Puri Rath Yatra Turns Tragic: Three Dead, Dozens Injured in Pre-Dawn Stampede
📍 Puri, Odisha | June 29, 2025
What began as a spiritual gathering of millions of devotees turned into a tragic event early this morning, as a stampede near the revered Gundicha Temple in Puri claimed three lives and left more than fifty people injured, including elderly devotees and children.
The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of India’s largest and oldest religious festivals, drawing pilgrims from across the country and abroad. This year’s celebrations were expected to surpass pre-pandemic crowds, but the tragic stampede has cast a somber shadow over the vibrant festivities.
🛕 The Rath Yatra: A 900-Year-Old Tradition
The Jagannath Rath Yatra dates back centuries — a living tradition of devotion and spectacle. Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, are carried in three towering wooden chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away. The procession symbolizes the annual visit of the deities to their aunt’s house.
It is one of the few occasions when devotees of all castes and communities can pull the holy chariots, making it an event charged with spiritual fervor and physical intensity. Every year, millions throng the temple town, resulting in an intricate dance of faith, emotion, and enormous logistical challenges.
⚡ How the Stampede Happened: Eyewitness Testimonies
According to locals, the incident occurred around 4 AM near the Saradhabali area — a narrow stretch just before the Gundicha Temple gates. Devotees were eager to get closer to the chariots as the deities arrived for darshan.
“It started with a vehicle trying to bring logs and supplies into an already packed crowd,” said Subhash Nayak, a local shopkeeper who witnessed the chaos. “People panicked when the path narrowed suddenly. Some fell, others tripped over logs lying on the ground.”
Another devotee, Manorama Devi, who had come from Balasore, recounted how “there was not enough police presence. Volunteers tried to stop the pushing but it was impossible — people were suffocating.”
Within minutes, the rush turned deadly. By the time security forces managed to clear a path, dozens were injured, some trampled beneath the feet of fellow pilgrims.
🕯️ Lives Lost: The Known Victims
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Basanti Sahu (36), a mother of two from Bolagarh, had come with her family to offer prayers.
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Premakanta Mohanty (80), a retired teacher from Balipatna, was a regular at the festival for over four decades.
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Pravati Das (42), from Pipili, was visiting for the first time in ten years.
For their families, the annual pilgrimage, once a symbol of blessings, has now turned into an unbearable loss.
🚑 Emergency Response: Did Authorities Fail?
Odisha’s government had deployed thousands of police personnel, barricades, and drone surveillance for the event. However, local media and eyewitnesses are now pointing to clear gaps in planning and communication.
Reports suggest:
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Over 750 people had already fainted or suffered minor injuries due to overcrowding even before the stampede.
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Narrow lanes leading to Gundicha Temple had become bottlenecks.
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Unauthorized vehicles were seen moving supplies near crowded pathways despite security advisories.
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Medical camps were set up but were overwhelmed quickly.
Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, confirmed that a judicial probe will be launched. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has asked the DGP to submit a detailed report within 48 hours.
⚖️ Political Reactions and Accountability
As the news spread, opposition parties criticized the state administration for failing to learn from past tragedies. In 2008, Puri witnessed a similar scare during Snana Purnima, and in 2015, the Rath Yatra saw massive overcrowding that almost led to a stampede but was narrowly avoided.
Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said: “If over a million people gather, the state must have foolproof plans. You can’t risk lives at such sacred events.”
The BJP leadership in Odisha has promised ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
⚙️ The Broader Issue: India’s Festival Crowd Management
Tragic stampedes at religious gatherings are sadly not new to India:
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In 2008, over 145 people died at the Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan.
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In 2013, the Kumbh Mela stampede in Allahabad killed 36 people.
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In 2018, over 60 people died during a Dussehra celebration in Punjab.
Experts believe India’s festival management still struggles with a fragile balance between faith, tradition, and modern safety protocols.
Crowd control experts have long suggested:
✅ Better real-time monitoring through AI-powered CCTV and drones
✅ Clearly marked entry and exit points with emergency lanes
✅ Training for volunteers in crisis management
✅ Educating pilgrims about safe behavior during processions
🗺️ What Happens Next?
Despite the tragedy, the Rath Yatra will continue until the Bahuda Yatra (return chariot procession) next week. Many families are rethinking their travel plans as a mark of respect for the deceased.
Local temple committees and Puri’s district administration are likely to enforce new barricades, restrict vehicle access near the temple, and deploy additional medical teams in the coming days.
💬 A Community in Mourning
For devotees, the Rath Yatra is more than a festival — it is an emotional journey, often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But for families who lost their loved ones today, it will forever be remembered as a tragic turning point.
As the sun sets over Puri’s golden beaches tonight, thousands will light candles near the Gundicha Temple in memory of the departed souls, praying that future generations can pull the chariots of the Lord without fear or tragedy.
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