Fatal Incident at Jagannath Rath Yatra
A stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri has resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left several others injured. This unfortunate event occurred early Sunday morning at Saradhabali, close to the Gundicha Temple. The victims have been identified as Prabhati Das, Basanti Sahu, and Premakanta Mohanty. Reports indicate that around 4:20 AM, a large number of devotees had gathered to seek blessings from the holy trinity when the chaos ensued.
Odisha's Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, addressed the media regarding the incident, stating, "This is a tragic occurrence. We are taking it very seriously. I spoke with the Chief Minister this morning, and we are implementing strict measures... The Director General of Police has been dispatched to the scene to assess the situation firsthand."
He confirmed that the fatalities were due to suffocation amid the overwhelming crowd, adding, "Three individuals have lost their lives due to suffocation, and six to seven others have sustained injuries."
The Minister also mentioned that he is personally overseeing the situation, saying, "I am heading to Puri and monitoring the developments via phone. We are doing everything possible to manage the crowd effectively. Additional police forces have been deployed."
He assured that investigations into the causes of the incident are underway, stating, "The situation is now under control, and devotees are able to continue their darshan."
As more information about the incident emerges, the atmosphere in Puri has returned to normal, with devotees participating in the Rath Yatra for its third day. Earlier footage from the event displayed a significant turnout of devotees eager to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, which commenced on June 27.
One devotee shared his joy about attending the Rath Yatra, stating, "It feels wonderful to have darshan here. This is the only temple where God himself comes out to bless us. Regardless of whether you are Hindu or Muslim, anyone who cannot enter the temple can still have darshan here."
On Saturday, health officials reported that approximately 750 devotees were hospitalized due to exhaustion and crowd-related issues.
