Committee Begins Probe Into Fall Of Lord Balabhadra’s Idol During Puri Rath Yatra

Puri: A three-member committee on Tuesday began a probe into the Adapa Mandap Bije mishap during which Lord Balabhadra’s idol fell face down while being taken from Taladhwaja to the Gundicha temple during Rath Yatra this year.

The committee comprising Additional District Magistrate, City Police DSP, and Niti Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), started by interacting with Badagrahis (body protectors) of Lord Balabhadra, followed by discussions with Khuntia, and Pratihari servitors, and Jagannath Temple Police, sources said.

SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee attended the meeting over video conferencing.

Overcrowding of the chariots by unauthorised people and servitors is very likely to have led to the incident. During Pahandi, 50 servitors are allowed on the chariot of Lord Jagannath, 10 on Devi Subhadra and 40 servitors on the chariot of Lord Balabhadra.

However, on that day during Pahandi, there were at least 100 servitors on the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, the sources added.

The committee for the inquiry was setup on July 10, and asked to submit its report by July 29. Countless devotees from all over the world expressed deep discontent over the manner in which Lord Balabhadra’s idol fell on the chariot’s Charamala (makeshift ramp).