Puri, Odisha – June 29, 2025
A spiritual celebration turned tragic in the early hours of Sunday when a stampede broke out during the Rath Yatra near the Gundicha Temple in Puri. At least three devotees lost their lives and over 50 others were injured, several critically, as the crowd swelled uncontrollably during the sacred event.
The incident occurred between 4:00 and 5:00 am at Saradhabali, when thousands had gathered to witness the deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra — on their majestic chariots. The procession had reached near the Gundicha Temple, located about three kilometers from the Jagannath Temple, when panic spread through the dense crowd.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Premakanta Mohanty, 80
- Basanti Sahoo, 36
- Prabhati Das, 42
All were from Khurda district and had travelled to Puri to attend the Rath Yatra.
Eyewitnesses reported that the stampede was triggered when two trucks carrying wooden logs attempted to enter the already congested site. Combined with a narrow congregation area, limited police presence, and scattered palm-log ladders near the chariots, the situation turned chaotic within moments. People fell and were trampled in the ensuing rush.
“This is the first time such a fatal stampede has occurred outside the Gundicha Temple,” said one local resident, Debasis Das. “Just two days ago, the pulling of Lord Jagannath’s chariot was stalled due to a similar overwhelming crowd.”
Despite deployment of over 10,000 police personnel, including NSG snipers for overall security amid broader national concerns, questions are being raised about the on-ground crowd control measures.
Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said that a thorough investigation has been ordered. “This tragedy has deeply saddened us. While arrangements were made, the crowd became uncontrollable. We will take appropriate action if any negligence is found,” he assured. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem to confirm the exact causes of death.
Meanwhile, health services have been overwhelmed. On Saturday alone, around 750 devotees suffered from heat exhaustion and crowd pressure. Of them:
- 230 were treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH)
- 520 were admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH)
- 12 remain in ICU
- One critically ill devotee was shifted to SCB Medical College in Cuttack
As the Rath Yatra continues, this tragedy casts a long shadow over the grand celebration. It also reignites urgent concerns about safety preparedness during large religious gatherings, with calls for better infrastructure, real-time monitoring, and controlled access points.
For now, a city dressed in devotion mourns the loss of its own — pilgrims who came seeking blessings, but never returned home.