Bhubaneswar: In a decisive response to the tragic stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple during the ongoing Rath Jatra, the Odisha government has initiated swift and significant administrative changes in Puri district.
The incident, which occurred early Sunday morning around 4 AM, claimed the lives of three devotees and left approximately 50 injured, with six reportedly in critical condition.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, terming it “deeply painful and unacceptable” and apologizing to the devotees on behalf of his government. He immediately ordered an in-depth administrative inquiry by the Development Commissioner to ascertain lapses and ensure accountability.
Administrative Shake-Up: The most prominent action taken by the state government is Aravind Agarwal is appointed Chariot Management In Charge. Shri Agarwal is Secretary Higher Education and he was District Magistrate Puri for a long time. He has been assigned with complete management of chariots.
Government has made immediate transfer of key administrative and police officials. Puri Collector (District Magistrate) Siddharth Shankar Swain and Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinit Agarwal have been removed from their posts. Shri Swain has been appointed OSD General Administration.
In their place, young bureaucrat Chanchal Rana has been appointed as the new Collector of Puri, while senior IPS officer Pinak Mishra will take over as the new Superintendent of Police.
Furthermore, disciplinary actions have been initiated against field-level officers directly involved in security arrangements. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bishnu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended pending investigation.
Victim Compensation and Ongoing Investigation: The Odisha government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased devotee. Financial and medical aid is also being extended to those injured in the stampede.
The tragic event unfolded when a large number of devotees gathered near the Gundicha Temple for darshan as part of the annual Rath Yatra celebrations. Reports suggest that a sudden surge in the crowd, possibly exacerbated by two trucks carrying ceremonial materials entering a congested zone, led to chaos and people being trampled.
This stampede follows a health emergency on Saturday, where nearly 750 devotees required medical attention due to exhaustion and crowd pressure, highlighting pre-existing concerns regarding crowd management during the massive pilgrimage.
The state government’s quick actions underscore its commitment to restoring public trust and implementing stricter protocols for managing large-scale religious congregations like the Rath Yatra to prevent such tragedies in the future. The inquiry committee is expected to submit its findings within a week, providing further clarity and ensuring accountability for the unfortunate incident.