A stampede during the annual Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri claimed the lives of at least three people and left around 50 injured early Sunday morning. The incident unfolded near the Sri Gundicha Temple between 4 and 4:30 am as a large number of devotees gathered for darshan.

The Odisha government has announced ₹25 lakh in financial aid to the families of the deceased.

Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said that the crowd had gathered near the Gundicha Temple when a sudden surge led to a stampede-like situation. Emergency responders acted swiftly, and the injured were taken to Puri District Hospital. Six individuals are reportedly in critical condition.

The victims — identified as Prativa Das (52), Premakanta Mohanty (78), and Basanti Sahu (42) — were residents of Khurda district. Their bodies have been sent for autopsy.

The tragedy occurred near Saradhabali, in front of the temple, where Lord Jagannath’s chariot was stationed. A sudden wave in the crowd during darshan caused several people to fall and be trampled.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause and assess if there were failures in managing the crowd. “We are reviewing what led to the chaos and checking for possible lapses in security or planning,” said an official.

Administrative Action Follows Tragedy

In response to the incident, the state government transferred Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal and District Magistrate Siddharth S Swain. Senior officer Pinak Mishra, currently serving as ADG (Crime), will take over as SP of Puri. Chanchal Rana, the Collector of Khurda, will replace Swain as the new District Magistrate of Puri.

Two police officials — DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi — have also been suspended, according to an official statement.

Political Reactions Pour In

Chief Minister of Odisha expressed sorrow and said the tragedy resulted from the overwhelming eagerness of devotees to catch a glimpse of Mahaprabhu. “On behalf of myself and my government, I seek forgiveness from Jagannath’s devotees for this unfortunate event,” he said, calling the incident a result of “serious negligence” and vowing strict action against those found responsible.

Former Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik criticized the current administration, blaming it for failing to ensure crowd safety. “This stampede, coming right after yesterday’s mismanagement that left many injured, reflects the government’s incompetence,” Patnaik wrote on X.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences and wished a swift recovery for the injured. He urged the Odisha government to step up relief efforts and called for a serious review of safety measures at major religious events. “Congress workers should extend every possible help,” he added.

Ramakrishna Das Mahapatra, a senior Daitapati servitor of the Puri Jagannath Temple, voiced his grief, stating, “This is the first time such an incident has occurred. I urge the authorities to make better arrangements going forward.”

Lakhs Gathered for the Annual Festival

An estimated 10 to 12 lakh devotees had gathered in Puri for the annual chariot festival, where the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra are paraded from the main temple to Gundicha Temple. The deities will remain at Gundicha for a week before their return journey.

The Rath Yatra is one of the largest religious gatherings in India and a significant event in the state’s calendar. Despite heightened security measures, the massive turnout overwhelmed the arrangements, raising concerns about future safety protocols.