In a tragic stampede that broke out in Shri Gundicha Temple in Odisha’s Puri in the early hours today (Sunday) which led to the demise of three devotee and several injured.
The tragedy occurred around 4–5 am when Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandighosh, reached the Gundicha Temple. As large crowds surged forward for a glimpse of the deity, crowd barriers collapsed, causing panic and multiple people to fall near the chariot wheels.
Overcrowding Remains The Reason
Authorities identified the deceased as Basanti Sahu of Bolagarh in Khorda district, Premakanti Mohanty, and Prabhati Das from Athantara village under Balianta block. The stampede occurred as the three chariots arrived at their destination and devotees pressed forward to offer prayers. The collapse of crowd control barricades worsened the situation, leading to chaos. Officials said the heavy rush became unmanageable despite security measures and volunteer deployment around the temple corridor.
Over 10 Lakh Devotees Attend Yatra Amid Health Emergencies
The Rath Yatra festivities drew an estimated 10 lakh attendees over two days. On Friday, the first day of the Yatra, over 625 devotees reportedly fell ill due to heat and overcrowding. Saturday recorded another 650 health complaints, with at least 70 devotees hospitalized. Nine patients remained in critical condition. Medical teams, ambulances, and temporary clinics were stationed throughout the route to provide emergency care.
A foreign devotee in Gorangi, says, “I have been living in India for 20 years. Yesterday was the first day of the Rath Yatra festival. Lakhs of people are coming. By the mercy of Lord Jagannath, I got to take his darshan. Today, I hope I will have the grace to pull Jagannath to Gundicha. This is a very special festival because Lord Jagannath comes out of the temple to see all his devotees and give his mercy…”
#WATCH | Puri, Odisha: On #RathYatra, Gorangi, a devotee, says, “I have been living in India for 20 years. Yesterday was the first day of the Rath Yatra festival. Lakhs of people are coming. By the mercy of Lord Jagannath, I got to take his darshan. Today, I hope I will have the… pic.twitter.com/qDrUXNE9ZY
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025
The three chariots – Taladwaja of Lord Balabhadra, Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra, and Nandighosh of Lord Jagannath, reached the Gundicha Temple on Saturday. The journey began Friday afternoon following the ceremonial ‘Chhera Pahanra’ performed by Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb. Devotees pulled the chariots through the 2.6 km stretch with chants of “Jai Jagannath” and devotional music. The return journey, Bahuda Yatra, will take place on July 5.
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