On June 29, 2025, a heartbreaking incident shook Puri, Odisha, during the famous Jagannath Rath Yatra. A stampede near the Gundicha Temple killed three people and injured over 50 devotees, turning a joyful festival into a tragedy. This happened when thousands gathered for a special nighttime ritual, but poor crowd control led to chaos. People across India, especially in Odisha, are upset and demanding better safety measures to protect devotees at such big events. Here’s a simple explanation of what happened, why it matters, and how it affects India.
What Happened in Puri?
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a huge festival in Puri where lakhs of people come to see Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra’s chariots. On June 29, around 4:20 AM, over 1,500 devotees were packed near Gundicha Temple, 3 km from the main Jagannath Temple, for the Pahada ritual (when the deities are put to rest). The area was crowded, and things got worse when two trucks carrying sacred wood entered, causing confusion. Narrow roads, scattered wooden logs, and too few police led to panic. When darshan started again, people rushed forward, causing a deadly stampede.
Three devotees—Basanti Sahu (36), Premakant Mohanty (80), and Pravati Das (42)—lost their lives. Six others were seriously hurt. A day earlier, on June 28, over 700 people needed hospital care due to suffocation in a similar crowd surge, showing warning signs were ignored.
Why Did This Happen?
The stampede wasn’t just bad luck—it was due to big mistakes in planning:
- Too Many People, Too Little Space: The Saradhabali area was too small for 1,500 devotees, with no clear paths to move in or out.
- Not Enough Police: Even with 10,000 police, there weren’t enough near Gundicha Temple to control the crowd.
- Trucks Caused Panic: The trucks entering a packed area scared people, who thought they’d miss seeing the deities.
- No Clear Instructions: Devotees didn’t know where to go, and there were no loud announcements or signs to guide them.
Leaders and People React
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi apologized and promised ₹25 lakh for the families of those who died. He suspended two top police officers and transferred two officials, ordering a probe into what went wrong. “This shouldn’t have happened at such a holy event,” he said on X. Former CM Naveen Patnaik called it a sign of the government’s “failure,” saying they ignored Friday’s warning signs. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a fast investigation, and Puri’s king, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb, asked for better safety plans.
The ruling BJP defended itself, saying the opposition was playing politics. But X users are angry, with posts like “Why no proper planning for Rath Yatra?” and hashtags like #JusticeForPuri trending. People want answers and safer festivals.
A Bigger Problem in India
This isn’t the first time a religious event turned deadly. Similar stampedes happened at the 2005 Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra (340 deaths), the 2008 Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan (250 deaths), and the 2025 Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj (30–82 deaths). Experts say these tragedies happen because of:
- Too many people in small spaces.
- Not enough planning or police.
- VIP arrangements that block regular devotees.
In Puri, fancy AI cameras and extra security didn’t help because basic things like clear paths and enough staff were missing. A priest said, “Technology is great, but we need better planning to keep people safe.”
How It Affects Odisha and India
The Rath Yatra is Odisha’s pride, bringing tourists and money to Puri. But this tragedy has scared people. Families in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack worry about attending the next rituals, like Bahuda Yatra. Local shops, like Rina Behera’s idol store, lost business as devotees left early. “This was our big week, but now people are afraid,” she said.
Across India, people are talking about safety at big events. With huge festivals like the Maha Kumbh drawing millions, these tragedies show we need better systems. On X, users are sharing videos of ambulances in Puri and asking for army-style management, like at IPL matches, to keep crowds safe.
What Can Be Done?
To stop this from happening again, experts and people suggest:
- Better Planning: Map out crowded spots and make clear paths for devotees.
- More Police: Have enough staff to guide crowds, especially at night.
- Guide Devotees: Use loudspeakers and signs to tell people where to go.
- Strict Rules: Punish officials who fail to plan properly.
- Learn from Success: Copy crowd control from big events like IPL finals in Ahmedabad.
A Call for Change
The Puri stampede has left Odisha and India in shock. For the families of Basanti, Premakant, and Pravati, the pain is deep, their faith shaken by this loss. As Puri heals, the nation hopes this tragedy leads to better safety so that devotion never turns into disaster again. Let’s pray for the victims and demand safer festivals for all.
Last Updated on: Monday, June 30, 2025 12:59 am by Mohammad Hussain Shaik | Published by: Mohammad Hussain Shaik on Monday, June 30, 2025 12:59 am | News Categories: Trending, India
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