Tragedy at Rath Yatra in Puri: Stampede Kills 3, Injures 10 Amid Overcrowding Near Gundicha Temple
Two women and one elderly man among the deceased; crowd swell blamed as chariot procession delayed due to bottlenecks on Grand Road.
Puri (Odisha), June 29 (TTP): A tragic stampede during the sacred Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri claimed the lives of three devotees, including two women, and left 10 others injured early Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. near the Gundicha Temple, as crowds surged toward the stationary chariots of the holy trinity—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
According to initial reports, a massive crowd had gathered around the chariots for darshan. Amid the pushing and jostling, several people fell, triggering a stampede that turned fatal.
Victims Identified
The three deceased have been identified as:
- Prabhati Das (Female)
- Basanti Sahu (Female)
- Premakant Mohanty (Male, aged 70)
All three victims hailed from Khurda district and had travelled to Puri to witness the sacred festival.
Injured in Critical Condition
Authorities have confirmed that 10 people were injured in the chaos, with several in critical condition. Emergency medical services rushed to the scene, and injured persons were transported to nearby hospitals.
What Led to the Stampede?
The chariot procession, a central element of the Rath Yatra, was significantly delayed this year. While rituals such as Pahandi (ceremonial procession of deities) were completed on schedule, the actual pulling of the chariots did not begin until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, causing growing restlessness among the devotees.
The Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra got stuck while turning near a key intersection on Grand Road (Bada Danda), preventing the other two chariots—Darpadalana (Goddess Subhadra) and Nandighosha (Lord Jagannath)—from proceeding as planned.
Officials React
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan addressed the media on Friday, acknowledging the delay and citing that rituals were completed on time but crowd movement was impacted due to technical issues and an unexpected surge in attendance.
“Favourable weather and lifted COVID restrictions brought a turnout 1.5 times larger than previous years. This made crowd control extremely challenging,” Harichandan said.
Festival Background
The Rath Yatra is one of India’s most iconic religious festivals, drawing millions of devotees to Puri each year. During the event, three giant wooden chariots carry the deities from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, where they stay for a week before returning during the Bahuda Yatra.
This year, due to logistical snags, the chariots had to be halted on Grand Road, disrupting the normal procession timeline and contributing to overcrowding at key choke points.
What’s Next?
Authorities are monitoring the situation and have launched an inquiry into the cause of the stampede. Security personnel and medical teams remain on high alert as the festival continues until July 5.
More details are expected as the Jagannath Temple Administration and Odisha Police release official updates.