In the wake of a tragic stampede during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals, the state government has made significant decisions. The government has transferred two senior officials and several police personnel as a direct response to the incident. This action comes at a time when an investigation into the event is currently underway.

The Odisha government has reassigned Puri's Superintendent of Police, Vineet Agarwal, and District Magistrate, Siddharth Shankar Swain. Senior officer Pinak Mishra, who is presently the Additional Director General (Crime), will take over as the new Superintendent of Police in Puri, while Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana will assume the role of District Magistrate. Additionally, an official statement revealed that two police officers, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi, have been suspended.

On June 29, 2025, a devastating stampede occurred during the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. This incident took place near the Gundicha Temple, leading to the unfortunate deaths of three devotees and injuring around 50 others. Preliminary investigations suggest that the chaos was triggered by trucks entering a crowded area near the chariots, exacerbated by an overwhelming number of attendees. Following this tragedy, the Odisha government expressed profound sorrow and issued an apology, while also ordering a thorough investigation into the incident, raising serious concerns about crowd management and safety protocols during religious events.