Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, today expressed his profound grief and offered a public apology for the tragic stampede that occurred in the early hours of Sunday near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri, during the ongoing Rath Yatra. The incident claimed the lives of three devotees and left over 50 injured, with several in critical condition.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister Majhi stated, “My government and I seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees. We express our condolences to the families of those devotees whose lives were lost at Saradhabali and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to grant them the strength to bear this profound sorrow.”
The stampede, which took place around 4:00 AM, saw hundreds of devotees gathered near the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings for darshan. Eyewitnesses reported that chaos erupted when two trucks carrying “Charamala” (sacred wooden logs for rituals) entered the already crowded Saradhabali area.
This unexpected movement of vehicles in a densely packed zone caused panic, leading to people being trampled in the ensuing rush. Many also alleged a severe lack of adequate police deployment and crowd management at the site.
Chief Minister Shri Majhi minced no words in condemning the lapses, declaring, “This negligence is unforgivable. An immediate investigation into the security failures will be conducted. I have directed that necessary steps be taken to initiate exemplary action against those responsible.”
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan confirmed that Chief Minister Shri Majhi had been apprised of the incident and that strict action would be taken once the investigation is completed.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and assured comprehensive medical treatment for all injured individuals. Hospitals in Puri are treating the casualties, with reports indicating some are in critical condition.
The tragedy has cast a somber shadow over the revered Rath Jatra, which draws millions of pilgrims annually. Concerns are mounting regarding crowd control measures and the preparedness of authorities for such massive religious gatherings, prompting calls for a thorough review of protocols to prevent recurrence.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also voiced his anguish over the incident, highlighting the alleged absence of government machinery to manage the surging crowds.