Puri Rath Yatra Stampede Kills 3, Injures Over Dozen Near Gundicha Temple

Early Morning Tragedy at Puri Rath Yatra

On 29 June 2025, between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM, a stampede broke out in the Sardhabali area near the Shri Gundicha Temple during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. Three people were killed, and over 50 were injured — 12 of them critically, hospital authorities confirmed.

• The deceased have been identified as Basanti Sahu (42) of Bolagarh, Prativa das (52) of Balipatna and Premakant Mohanty (78) of Bhubaneswar.
• At least 15 people were hospitalized - three died, and twelve were treated and discharged; six remain in critical condition.

What Sparked the Panic?

Ritual Logistics Trigger Crowd Surge

Eyewitnesses reported that two trucks loaded with sacred Charmala wood unexpectedly entered the crowded crowd sitting on plastic mats during the "Pahuda" puja, causing panic among the people and creating a deadly stampede.

“People fell over each other… the ambulance was parked nearly a kilometer away,” said a terrified bystander.

Lapses in Crowd Management

Witness Swadhin Kumar Panda criticized the administration: a new VIP lane and remote exits forced ordinary devotees to move forward, and limited police presence and weak traffic control worsened the crisis.

Official Response & Accountability

• Puri district collector Siddhartha Swain confirmed the death toll, saying an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death.
• Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan described the tragic incident as "unfortunate", confirmed that the Chief Minister had been informed and announced that "strict action" and a full investigation was underway under the leadership of DGP Y.B. Khurania.
• Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik sharply blamed "glaring incompetence" and said the incident exposed a significant administrative failure in ensuring security during religious gatherings.

Historical Context & Safety Issues

• The Rath Yatra, held in late June or early July, attracts lakhs of local and international devotees, with the chariots traveling about 2.6 km from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
• This year, attendance was up - crowds broke down due to the pressure, and in previous days, more than 700 devotees had fallen ill due to the heat and suffocation.
• Comparable incidents at Indian temples, such as the 2008 Naina Devi event, demonstrate repeated failures in crowd planning and emergency preparedness.

Immediate Aftermath & Next Steps

1. An autopsy report is likely to be released within 24-48 hours, which will reveal the cause of death - likely suffocation.
2. A judicial investigation is being conducted to assess crowd control protocols, police deployment, emergency access, and command structure.
3. Ahead of the Bahuda Yatra on July 5, 2025, officials will now need to implement real-time crowd monitoring technology, ensure adequate exit routes, bring ambulances closer to the station, and increase healthcare capacity on site.