**Tragic Stampede During Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra Claims Lives in Puri**
At least three individuals lost their lives and over 50 others sustained injuries in a stampede near the Sri Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. The incident unfolded early Sunday morning, around 4 to 4:30 AM, amidst a massive gathering of devotees.
According to Puri District Collector Siddharth S. Swain, the chaos erupted when hundreds of devotees congregated near the Shree Gundicha Temple for darshan. A sudden surge in the crowd led to a stampede-like situation, causing panic and confusion.
Emergency services responded swiftly, transporting the injured to Puri District Hospital, where six individuals are reported to be in critical condition. The deceased have been identified as Prativa Das (52), Premakanta Mohanty (78), and Basanti Sahu (42), all hailing from Khurda district. Their bodies have been sent for postmortem examination.
The tragic event occurred near Saradhabali, directly in front of the temple where Lord Jagannath was seated on the chariot. The crowd became uncontrollable during the darshan, resulting in several people falling and being trampled in the ensuing chaos. Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. An official stated, “We are examining what triggered the rush and whether there were any lapses in crowd control.”
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating, “Due to the intense eagerness among devotees to glimpse Mahaprabhu at Sharadhabali, an unfortunate incident occurred because of the resulting jostling and chaos. Personally, I and my government seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees.” He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized the need for accountability, labeling the incident as a result of serious negligence and ordering a thorough investigation into security lapses.
BJD President Naveen Patnaik criticized the state government for its failure to ensure a safe and orderly Rath Yatra for devotees. He expressed his condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and highlighted the government’s incompetence in managing crowd control during the festival.
Senior Daitapati servitor of the Puri Jagannath Temple, Ramakrishna Das Mahapatra, also expressed his grief over the tragic loss of life.
In light of this incident, it is crucial for authorities to reassess crowd management strategies to prevent such tragedies in the future.
**FAQ**
**What caused the stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri?**
The stampede was triggered by a sudden surge of devotees eager to have darshan at the Sri Gundicha Temple, leading to chaos and panic among the crowd.