Puri Gundicha Temple Stampede: Devotees Killed and Injured Amidst Rath Yatra Aftermath

Tragedy struck near the Gundicha Temple in Puri on Sunday when a stampede claimed the lives of three devotees and injured numerous others. The stampede took place at Saradha Bali, as devotees congregated to see the deities after the Rath Yatra chariots arrived from the Jagannath Temple. The victims have been identified as Premakanta Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42). The incident occurred between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Witnesses reported that the stampede was initiated when two trucks carrying wooden logs attempted to navigate through an already crowded area, compounded by scattered palm-log ladders and a perceived absence of sufficient police presence. The event follows a period of scrutiny directed at the state government, particularly regarding its handling of the Rath Yatra. The previous day, the Rath Yatra saw around 750 devotees requiring medical assistance due to exhaustion and overcrowding. Following the tragic incident, the Odisha law minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, offered his condolences and declared a high-level investigation. Local accounts indicate this as the first fatal stampede to occur outside the Gundicha Temple.