Puri, Odisha: The 2025 Rath Yatra in Puri, one of India’s most revered religious festivals, turned tragic when a stampede at Shardhabali near Gundicha Temple claimed three lives and injured over 50 devotees on June 29, 2025, between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM. The incident, attributed to severe lapses in crowd control and administrative mismanagement, has put the BJP-led Odisha government under intense scrutiny. Eyewitnesses reported that the chaos erupted when two trucks carrying wooden ladders for the chariots entered a densely packed crowd, compounded by a faulty barricading system and inadequate police presence. A new VIP route forced regular devotees to use a narrow exit, escalating the crowding and triggering the fatal crush.
Among the deceased was 42-year-old Basanti Sahoo from Khurda, who was attending the festival with her family. Six others remain in critical condition, with 12 in ICU, receiving treatment at Puri District Hospital. The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra had reached Gundicha Temple on Saturday, but the mismanagement of a smaller crowd of 5,000–6,000 devotees near the temple led to the disaster.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi called the negligence “unpardonable” and issued a public apology on X, ordering an immediate high-level inquiry led by Development Commissioner Anu Garg. The government suspended DCP V.P. Pati and Commandant Ajay Kumar Padhi, and transferred Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vinit Agrawal, appointing Pinak Mishra as the new SP and Chanchal Rana as Collector. Additionally, Rs 25 lakh ex gratia was announced for the victims’ families.
The opposition, led by BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, slammed the government’s “glaring incompetence,” noting that the stampede followed reports of 500 devotees injured on Friday due to poor crowd management. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the “inexcusable” lapses, with Kharge demanding a judicial probe. Odisha Congress leader Prasad Harichandan called the festival’s handling “chaotic,” citing inadequate emergency medical services and logistical breakdowns.
Historical precedents highlight recurring crowd control failures during Rath Yatra. In 2015, two devotees died during Bahuda Yatra, with a judicial inquiry pointing to poor coordination. Similar incidents in 2010 (1 death), 2008 (6 deaths), 2006 (4 deaths), 1997 (4 deaths), and 1978 (3 deaths) exposed systemic issues in managing large crowds.
Despite the tragedy, devotees continued darshan, though public outrage persists over the lack of initial response from authorities. Senior Daitapati servitor Ramakrishna Das Mahapatra urged better arrangements to prevent future incidents. Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan assured that the inquiry would conclude within 30 days, with stricter crowd management measures planned. The incident underscores the urgent need for robust safety protocols to protect millions attending this sacred festival.
