A major incident occurred on Sunday morning during the historic Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. A stampede-like situation arose in the large crowd gathered for darshan in front of the Sri Gundicha Temple, resulting in the deaths of three devotees on the spot and injuring more than 10 others. The incident took place around 4:30 AM when devotees were moving forward to catch a glimpse of the Lord's chariot.
According to eyewitnesses, pushing and shoving suddenly began, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Devotees fell one after another, and cries of panic erupted. The police and administration present at the scene struggled to manage the situation.
The deceased were identified as devotees from Khurda district
All three devotees who lost their lives in the accident are reported to be residents of the Khurda district of Odisha. The deceased include two women—Prabhati Das and Basanti Sahu, and a 70-year-old elderly man, Premakant Mohanty. A wave of grief swept across the entire area after the incident. The administration took possession of the bodies and informed the families.
The injured were immediately taken to the Puri District Hospital with the help of 108 ambulances, where a team of doctors is treating them. According to hospital sources, the condition of some of the injured remains critical, and they have been placed under special medical supervision.
The shadow of the accident on the joy of the Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is considered one of the largest and most grand religious journeys in the country. Every year, millions of devotees arrive in Puri, where Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra are taken from the Sri Mandir to the Sri Gundicha Temple in grand chariots. During this time, the entire city is filled with devotion and faith.
But this time, the stampede amid the religious fervor has saddened the entire atmosphere. The accident has not only raised questions about the security arrangements, but has also turned this festival of faith for millions of devotees into mourning. The police have started an investigation and the administration has claimed to have brought the situation under control.
