Puri: A stampede at Saradhabali, near Gundicha Temple in Puri, claimed the lives of three people and injured over 50 others early Sunday morning. The incident happened around 4 am, when a large number of devotees had gathered to witness the sacred Rath Yatra.
According to Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain, around 1,500 devotees had assembled in the area to see the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra on their chariots. Gundicha Temple, about 3 km from the main Jagannath Temple, is the resting place of the deities during the nine-day Rath Yatra.
What caused the stampede?
Eyewitnesses said the crowd was calm until two large trucks loaded with Charamala wood suddenly entered the Saradhabali area. These logs are considered sacred and are used for religious purposes. The unexpected arrival of the trucks created panic, as devotees feared they would be crushed or pushed aside.
People started pushing and running in confusion. In the chaos, many fell on the ground and were trampled. Several devotees lost consciousness due to suffocation. Among the dead were Pravati Das (52) from Balipatna, Basanti Sahu (42) from Godabhanga, and Premakanta Mohanty (78) from Bhubaneswar.
Eyewitness accounts and allegations
A man who lost his wife in the incident told ANI that no officials came forward to help when the stampede took place. “There were no fire services, no rescue teams, and no immediate medical help,” he said.
Another witness described how people fell on top of each other and became unconscious within minutes. “We went to the information centre for help, but they couldn’t do anything. The ambulance was parked about a kilometre away,” he said.
Locals also raised concerns about poor crowd and traffic management. Swadhin Kumar Panda, a Puri resident, said a separate route had been created for VIPs, forcing the common devotees to exit through a crowded path. “This confusion added to the chaos,” he added.
Government response
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been informed and a probe will be conducted into the incident. “Strict action will be taken after the investigation,” the minister said.
The Rath Yatra began on Friday and will conclude on July 1, when the deities return to the Jagannath Temple. Until then, they remain at the Gundicha Temple.
