Priests and servitors perform the Dhadi Pahandi ritual as they carry the idol of Lord Jagannath to the Nandighosha Ratha during the annual Rath Yatra festival at the Jagannath Dham in Puri, Odisha on Thursday (July 16). Photo: PTI
Puri Rath Yatra: 2 dead, around 100 injured in stampede-like situation
The stampede-like situation reportedly broke out near the Jagannath Temple's Singhadwara as lakhs of devotees gathered for the Rath Yatra, with the exact cause still under investigation
Two persons died and around 100 devotees were injured after a stampede-like situation broke out during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on Thursday (July 16), according to news reports, triggering panic among lakhs of pilgrims gathered to witness the annual chariot festival.
The incident occurred on the Bada Danda (Grand Road), where devotees had assembled in large numbers to watch the ceremonial pulling of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, one of the most significant events of the Rath Yatra.
Emergency rescue teams evacuated several people on stretchers after a heavy surge of pilgrims gathered near the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple, news agency PTI reported. According to preliminary reports, a devotee developed severe breathing difficulties amid the dense crowd and was rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared the person dead. Officials later confirmed that the death toll had risen to two.
Officials said around 100 devotees sustained injuries or fell ill amid the heavy crowd. Nearly 50 people were admitted to hospitals for treatment, while others received first aid. Security personnel and rescue teams rushed to help devotees caught in the crowd, providing medical assistance as pilgrims continued to gather around the three sacred chariots.
The exact cause of the stampede has not yet been officially established. Authorities are assessing the situation and further details are awaited.
Reacting to the incident, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the loss of lives and urged the state government to ensure devotees' safety through better crowd management.
"I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of lives among devotees in the stampede at Badadanda during Rath Yatra. I pray for the eternal peace of the souls of the devotees who have lost their lives and for the swift recovery of the more than a hundred injured devotees. In this hour of grief, all workers of the Biju Janata Dal will extend their full cooperation to provide assistance to everyone. I hope that the state government will ensure the convenience and safety of the devotees by properly managing the crowds," Patnaik wrote on X.