Puri: Development Commissioner Anu Garg visited the spot for inquiry into the alleged stampede near the Shree Gundicha temple here follows a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of three devotees and injuries to around 50 others during the ongoing Rath Jatra festivities.
Here’s more information surrounding the incident and the ongoing inquiry:
Details of the Incident:
- Timing and Location: The stampede occurred early on Sunday, June 29, 2025, between 1 AM and 4:30 AM, near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri, approximately 3 km from the Shree Jagannath Temple. Thousands of devotees had gathered to witness the ceremonial unveiling of the deities on the chariots, which had arrived at Shree Gundicha Temple the previous day.
- Cause of Stampede (Alleged): Eyewitnesses and initial reports suggest that the stampede was triggered by a sudden surge in the crowd, particularly when “pahada bhanga” (morning rituals) began. Accounts also indicate that the movement of two trucks carrying “Charamala” wood (sacred wooden ladders for the chariots) through the already densely packed Saradhabali area, where devotees were seated, contributed to the chaos and panic. Some also reported slippery ground due to rain and wooden logs contributing to falls.
- Victims: The three deceased have been identified as Basanti Sahu (36) from Bolagarh, Premakant Mohanty (78), and Pravati Das (42 or 52) from Balipatna in Bhubaneswar/Khurda. All injured individuals were discharged from a government health facility by 8 PM on Sunday, with their condition reported as stable.
- Eyewitness Accounts: Survivors and eyewitnesses have heavily criticized the alleged lack of adequate police deployment and crowd management. Some claimed that police personnel fled the scene, leaving devotees to assist the injured.
- Official Response:
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed condolences and issued an apology to devotees, calling the negligence “unpardonable.”
- He immediately ordered a major administrative shake-up, transferring Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Puri SP Vinit Agarwal.
- Additionally, DSP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi were suspended.
- IAS Officer Chanchal Rana was posted as DM and IPS Officer Pinak Mishra as SP, Puri.
- Secretary Higher Education Aravind Agarwal has been assigned Chariot Management.
- ADG SK Priyadarshi has been assigned overall charge of police arrangements for the remaining Rath Jatra rituals.
- An ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh each has been announced for the kin of the deceased.
The Administrative Inquiry
- Mandate: Anu Garg, as Development Commissioner is tasked with leading a comprehensive administrative inquiry into the incident.
- Scope: The inquiry aims to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the alleged stampede, identify those responsible for any lapses in duty, and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated the inquiry will focus on why the stampede occurred, who is responsible, and what corrective actions are needed.
- Timeline: A comprehensive report on the incident is expected to be submitted within one month (30 days) to the Chief Minister.
- Discussions: During her spot visit, Ms. Garg held preliminary discussions with key officials including the Collector Chanchal Rana and SP of Puri, Pinak Mishra, Chief Administrator of SJTA, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, police officers, sebayats (temple servitors), and media personnel to gather initial insights and perspectives.
This incident has drawn significant attention, with calls from various quarters, including political leaders like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, for strict accountability and improved crowd management protocols for large religious gatherings.
The outcome of administrative inquiry is highly anticipated and is expected to shape future safety measures at religious sites in Odisha.