3 dead in Puri stampede: two senior police suspended; Eyewitness revealed laps | Bharat News

During the annual Rath Yatra Festival on Sunday morning, three devotees were killed and more than 50 others were injured in a deadly stampede near Gundcha temple in Puri, Odisha. The incident came to light between 4 to 5 pm as thousands of pilgrims gathered to watch rituals when anarchy broke, allegedly entered a crowded area due to two ritual trucks.Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief and announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased. He also took administrative action by transferring Collector Siddharth S Swain and SP Binit Aggarwal, suspending Puri DCP Bishanu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padi.Also Read: 3 dead, 50 injured in Stamped near Gundcha temple of PariThe officials identified the deceased as Premkant Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahu (36), and Prabhati Das (42). While the situation was later brought under control, the tragedy has rapidly criticized the failure in mob management, eyewitnesses have blamed the poor plan for chaos and the VIP system.The state government has launched an investigation, and Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania was sent to the spot to take stock. This is the first time such a deadly incident occurred near the Gundcha temple during the Rath Yatra.

Odisha CM Puri Stagade orders action after tragedy

CM Majhi expressed deep regrets on the stampede. In a post on X, Majhi said, “Due to intensive curiosity to get a glimpse of Mahaprabhu among the devotees … resulting in an unfortunate incident due to Jostling and chaos. I and my government apologize to all Jagannath devotees. We mourn us for the families of devotees.,The Chief Minister announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased and took strict action on any laps. He said, “This negligence is inaccessible. An immediate investigation will be done in the security flaws, and I have directed that necessary steps will be taken to initiate exemplary action against those responsible people,” he said.As part of the immediate action, Majhi ordered the suspension of the transfer of Puri DCP Bishanu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padi, and District Collector and SP.

Eyewitness accounts point towards chaos and mismanagement

Many eyewitnesses recalled the scenes of completely confusion and mismanagement. Swadhin Kumar Panda, a local resident, said, “I was near the temple till 23 pm last night, but the management was not good. A new way was created for VIP, and the common people were asked to get out from a distance. People started coming out of the entrance, which increased the crowd.”He said that unauthorized vehicles had entered the restricted areas near the temple, deteriorating the situation. “No police or administration was present at night … The Odisha administration is responsible for this,” he said. Another grieving person who lost his wife in a stampede said that no fire, rescue or hospital officials immediately responded. “This is a pathetic phenomenon that cannot be expressed,” he said.

Law Minister confirms death, promises action

Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan confirmed that three people were killed and six to seven were seriously injured due to suffocation. “This is an unfortunate incident. We are paying attention to it. I spoke with CM this morning. We are taking strict action,” he told ANI, saying that the DGP was sent to the site.“The situation is now under control and see people,” said Harichandan. He said that additional police were deployed and an investigation was going on. “We are trying our best to manage the crowd,” he said, assuring that he was personally monitoring the situation and will take necessary steps to avoid repeating.

Former CM Patnaik Slam ‘Shiny Disability’

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik issued a strong word statement criticizing the failure of the current administration in ensuring security. He wrote on X, “Today’s stampede, during the Rath Yatra, occurred exactly a day after the failure of the mob management, which injured hundreds, exposed the shiny disability of the government,” he wrote on X.He also said that the initial response was not from the authorities but to the relatives of the devotees. He said, “When I avoid accusing criminal negligence, he clearly contributed to this tragedy,” he said, urged immediate corrective measures for upcoming rituals like Adapa Bije and Bahuda Yatra.

Rath procession overwhelmed by crowd, trucks convicted

The stampede allegedly began when two trucks carrying ritual materials entered the already filled area near the chariots. Eyewitness Chinme Patra said, “The narrow congregation site, the presence of the limited police joint and scattered near the chariots, the Pamalog Laders created a dangerous situation for the devotees.”The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra reached the Gundcha temple on Saturday, a day after the Rath Yatra started on Saturday. Local resident Debasis Das said that Lord Jagannath’s chariot had already faced a delay due to mob pressure. “Sunday’s tragedy was a disastrous repetition,” he said.

Health Emergency: Hundreds of fall ill, 12 in ICU

On Saturday, a day before the stampede, more than 750 people allegedly faced exhaustion and heat issues due to large -scale voting. Around 230 devotees were admitted to infectious disease hospital and another 520 district headquarters hospital, in which 12 were admitted to ICU. A seriously ill patient was transferred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack.