Puri Stampede: CM Majhi Responds with Apology and Official Transfers

Three people lost their lives and several were injured in a stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, leading to swift repercussions. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his regret and announced the suspension of Puri Deputy Police Commissioner Bishnu Charan Pati and police Commandant Ajay Padhi. Puri Collector Siddharth S Swain and SP Binit Agarwal were also transferred. The stampede occurred near Shree Gundicha Temple as devotees awaited the unveiling of the deities. Initial reports suggest that the entry of Charamala wood trucks contributed to the chaos. Witnesses described inadequate crowd management, especially around a new VIP entrance. The state government is investigating the incident, with the Director General of Police overseeing the inquiry. Former CM Naveen Patnaik criticized the government’s management of the event, highlighting perceived failures in crowd control.