On the morning of June 29, 2025, the sacred city of Puri, Odisha, witnessed a heartbreaking tragedy during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India’s most revered religious festivals. A stampede near the Gundicha Temple claimed the lives of three devotees and left over 50 injured, exposing critical lapses in crowd management and prompting swift action from the Odisha government. The incident, occurring amidst the fervor of millions gathered to honor Lord Jagannath, has sparked widespread outrage, official apologies, and a high-level investigation to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
The Rath Yatra, a centuries-old chariot festival, draws lakhs of devotees to Puri each year to witness the ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. The deities, placed on massive wooden chariots, are pulled from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, their aunt’s abode, along the Grand Road (Bada Danda). This year’s festival, which began on June 27, saw an estimated 10 to 12 lakh devotees, a significant turnout that underscored the event’s spiritual importance but also strained logistical arrangements.
The stampede occurred around 4:00–4:30 AM near Saradhabali, close to the Gundicha Temple, where thousands had gathered to catch a glimpse of the deities during the unveiling ritual, known as the Pahuda. According to eyewitnesses, chaos erupted when two trucks carrying sacred Charamala wood entered the congested area, triggering panic among the tightly packed crowd. The situation was exacerbated by poor crowd management, with reports of a new entrance created for VIPs, forcing common devotees to exit from a distance, leading to overcrowding at the main entrance. The close placement of the chariots and inadequate police presence further aggravated the situation, creating hazardous conditions.
The victims, identified as Premakanta Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42), all from Khurda district, were mourned across the state. Of the 50 injured, six were reported to be in critical condition, with one shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment. Emergency services responded swiftly, but eyewitnesses criticized the initial lack of official assistance, noting that local youths and devotees’ relatives were the first to aid the victims.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took immediate responsibility, issuing a public apology on behalf of his government and seeking forgiveness from Lord Jagannath’s devotees. “This negligence is unpardonable,” Majhi declared, announcing a financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased. He ordered a high-level administrative inquiry under the supervision of Development Commissioner Anu Garg to investigate the security lapses. In a decisive move, Majhi suspended two senior police officers—Deputy Commissioner of Police Bishnu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi—for dereliction of duty. Additionally, Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Superintendent of Police Vinit Agrawal were transferred, with Chanchal Rana and Pinak Mishra appointed as their replacements, respectively. Senior bureaucrat Aravind Agarwal was tasked with overseeing the remainder of the Rath Yatra to prevent further mishaps.
The tragedy drew sharp criticism from political leaders and religious figures. Former Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik lambasted the state government, calling the incident a “glaring failure” in crowd management, especially following reports of 500 injuries during the Yatra’s first day. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi echoed these sentiments, urging robust safety protocols for large religious gatherings. Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, expressed shock and called for a comprehensive inquiry to prevent future tragedies. Senior Jagannath Temple servitor Ramakrishna Das Mahapatra also urged stronger safety measures.
This incident, the first fatal stampede near the Gundicha Temple during the Rath Yatra, has highlighted the urgent need for improved crowd control and logistical planning. Eyewitness accounts of scattered palmlog ladders and limited police deployment underscore systemic issues that must be addressed. As Odisha DGP Y.B. Khurania oversees the ongoing investigation, the state government faces pressure to implement stringent safety measures for upcoming rituals like the Bahuda Yatra. The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the challenges in managing massive religious gatherings, urging authorities to prioritize devotee safety to preserve the sanctity and harmony of the Jagannath Rath Yatra.
