Jagannath Yatra Tragedy: Stampede Kills 3 in Puri
New Delhi: During the Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, a stampede claimed three lives—two of them women—and injured ten more. About three kilometers from the Jagannath temple, where the Yatra started, the incident took place while the three Raths bearing idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Shubhadra were close to Shree Gundicha Temple.
The holy chariots arrived at the Gundicha temple at 4.30 am today, and a sizable audience had assembled for a darshan. A stampede started when some people fell as the throng grew. On the location, three persons perished. Among them are Premakant Mohanty, 70, and two women, Prabhati Das and Basanti Sahu. It has been discovered that all three are from the Khurda district and traveled to Puri for the Rath Yatra.
According to local media, the police’s plan for crowd management at the location was insufficient. Reports state that several of the injured are in critical condition.
According to Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, the victims’ remains have been sent for autopsy, and the results will pinpoint the precise cause of death. He claimed that although there were sufficient security measures in place, the tragedy occurred because the crowd unexpectedly lost control.
A large number of devotees are drawn to the three magnificent chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Shubhadra during the Rath Yatra. To the Gundicha Temple, the sacred chariots are transported. Before going back to the Jagannath Temple, the three gods stay there for a week.
Meanwhile, a delay in the start of this Rath Yatra has sparked a political dispute. Former Chief Minister and leader of the BJD, Naveen Patnaik, called it a “terrible mess”. “All we can do is pray. May Mahaprabhu Jagannath forgive all those responsible for the terrible mess that has overshadowed this divine festival this year,” he said.
Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan criticized the BJD for making “political statements” but did not identify Mr. Patnaik. “In the past, the BJD government made mistakes and insulted Lord Jagannath. Since 1977, the chariots have always reached the Gundicha Temple on the second day,” he said.
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