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| credit :- indiatvnews |
Date: June 29, 2025
Location: Saradhabali, near Gundicha Temple, Puri, Odisha
A solemn atmosphere engulfed Puri this Sunday as a tragic stampede during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra resulted in the deaths of three devotees and injuries to many others. The ghastly incident occurred around 4:30 AM, as the sacred chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra approached the Shree Gundicha Temple.
📌 Victims Identified
The deceased have been confirmed as:
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Basanti Sahu (36)
Prabhati Das (42)
Premakant Mohanty (70) — all hailing from Khurda district📌
Witnesses and local media suggest that inadequate crowd controls—combined with narrow lanes and the entry of ritual material trucks—may have exacerbated the calamity.
📌 Initial Response
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The District Collector confirmed the deceased have undergone post-mortems and assured that injured individuals are receiving medical attention.
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Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, announced a high-level inquiry, pointed toward possible negligence, and emphasized stricter future measures.
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A government official noted that ritual trucks entering the crowd intensified already dangerous conditions.
📌 Wider Context & Concerns
This year, Puri saw an unprecedented turnout—up to 1.5× more than previous editions—driven by favorable weather and unanticipated delays (e.g., when Lord Balabhadra’s chariot got stuck en route).
Despite advanced preparations—AI cameras, drone surveillance, and deployment of nearly 10,000 security personnel—these measures were overwhelmed by the sheer density of devotees.
📌 What Lies Ahead
Calls are mounting for:
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A thorough review of crowd-management protocols
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Better physical segregation between chariot routes and support vehicle pathways
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Improved barriers, signage, and emergency access
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