Odisha CM Apologises After 3 Dead in Puri Rath Yatra Stampede, Announces Ex-Gratia Of Rs 25 Lakh
A tragic stampede during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri claimed the lives of three devotees and left over 50 injured in the early hours of Sunday. The incident, which occurred near the Gundicha Temple, prompted a swift apology from Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi and immediate high-level administrative changes, including the transfer of the Puri District Collector and the Superintendent of Police.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi issued a public apology on behalf of his government. “I and my government seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees… This negligence is unpardonable,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. He announced a significant ex-gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each of the deceased and pledged “exemplary action against those responsible.”
The chaos unfolded between 4 and 5 am when a massive crowd of pilgrims surged forward for a glimpse of the deities on their respective chariots—Nandighosh, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana—which had reached their destination at the Gundicha Temple. According to officials, crowd barriers collapsed under the pressure, causing several people to fall and be trampled near the wheels of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandighosh. Eyewitnesses said the situation was exacerbated when two trucks carrying ritual materials entered the already congested area.
In a major administrative overhaul following the tragedy, the government transferred Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain and Superintendent of Police (SP) Binit Agarwal. Chanchal Rana has been appointed as the new District Collector, and senior IPS officer Pinak Mishra will take charge as the new SP. Additionally, DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended for dereliction of duty in managing the crowd.
The deceased have been identified as Basanti Sahu of Khorda district, and Premakanti Mohanty and Prabhati Das, both from Athantara village. The injured were rushed to a local hospital, with at least six reported to be in critical condition.
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan described the incident as “extremely unfortunate,” acknowledging that there was “negligence at some level and a lapse somewhere.” He explained that a delay in the ‘Pahandi Bije’ ritual led to a build-up of devotees. “When the gates were opened, the crowd’s eagerness intensified, leading to a sudden surge and stampede-like situation,” he stated.
Eyewitnesses have heavily criticised the crowd management. A local resident claimed a new VIP entrance created confusion, forcing common devotees to exit through the entrance itself, thereby dangerously increasing the crowd density at one spot. He also alleged a lack of police presence and that unauthorised vehicles were allowed near the chariots, compounding the chaos.
The state government has ordered a full administrative inquiry into the disaster, to be led by the Development Commissioner, to establish accountability and prevent the recurrence of such events.
