Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede that occurred near the Gundicha Temple in Puri during the ongoing Jagannath Rath Yatra, claiming three lives and injuring several others.
In a post on social media platform X, Patnaik offered condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who lost their lives in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali, Puri, and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha for the swift recovery of those injured,” he wrote.
Taking a sharp dig at the Odisha Government, Patnaik called the incident a result of “abysmal failure” in crowd management. “The stampede, occurring just a day after poor crowd control that left hundreds injured, exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees,” he said.
Patnaik cited eyewitness accounts, which claimed that the initial response came not from officials but from relatives of the victims. “There was no government machinery present to manage the surging crowd, highlighting a shocking lapse in duty,” he added.
He further criticised the administration for attributing delays in pulling the Nandighosha chariot to “Mahaprabhu’s wish,” calling it a “shocking excuse” to cover up mismanagement. “This masks the administration’s complete abdication of responsibility,” Patnaik stated.
While stopping short of accusing the government of criminal negligence, he asserted that “blatant callousness” had undeniably contributed to the tragedy. He urged the state to implement urgent corrective measures to ensure smooth conduct of upcoming Rath Yatra rituals like Adapa Bije, Bahuda Yatra, and Suna Besha.
Earlier in the day, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan confirmed that three people had died due to suffocation amid the crowd and that six to seven people were injured. He said the situation is now under control, and Odisha DGP YB Khurania has reached the site to assess the scene. Additional police forces have been deployed, and an investigation is underway.
