Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday issued an apology for the tragic stampede near Gundicha Temple in Odisha Puri this morning, which resulted in three deaths and multiple injuries.
“I and my government seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to give them strength in this time of grief,” the CM said in a statement.
He described the incident as “unforgivable negligence” and promised a thorough investigation into security lapses. “This level of negligence is wholly unacceptable. An immediate investigation into the safety lapses will be conducted and strict action will be taken against those responsible, with exemplary measures put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future,” he posted on X.
The CM, however, attributed the incident to the chaotic rush of devotees eager to catch a glimpse of the sibling deities on the chariots. “Due to the intense eagerness among devotees to have a glimpse of Mahaprabhu at Saradhabali, an unfortunate incident occurred because of the resulting jostling and chaos,” he wrote.
Earlier, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan had said that a thorough probe will be conducted into the incident. “It is an unfortunate incident. We are taking note of that. I spoke with the CM this morning. We are taking stringent action. DGP has been sent to the spot. Three people have passed away because of suffocation in the huge gathering. Six to seven people are injured. I will be travelling to Puri. I am monitoring the situation over the phone. We are trying our best to manage the crowd. Additional police have been deployed. The reasons for the incident are being investigated. The situation is now under control and the people are having darshan,” he said.
The Tragic Incident
Three devotees, including two women, were killed and six others were injured early Sunday morning in a stampede at Saradhabali near Gundicha Temple in Puri. The incident occurred at around 4.20 am when two trucks loaded with Charamala wood (considered sacred) entered the Saradhabali area, which saw a sudden surge in devotees, trying to catch a glimpse of the deities on the chariots as the ‘pahada’ ritual was about to begin. In the ensuing melee, three devotees were killed and several others suffered injuries.
Eyewitnesses alleged there were no adequate police arrangements or officials on-site to manage the swelling number of pilgrims.
“When this incident happened, no one responded, neither the fire officials, nor the rescue team, nor the hospital team. This is a pathetic incident that cannot be expressed…,” a man who lost his wife in the stampede told the media.
Take Urgent Corrective Measures, Says Naveen
The stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during Rath Yatra that left hundreds injured, has exposed the Mohan Mjahi government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patanik posted on X on Sunday.
“Eyewitnesses report that the initial response to this horrific tragedy came from the devotees’ relatives, with no government machinery present to manage the surging crowds, highlighting a shocking lapse in duty. The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day was conveniently attributed to “Mahaprabhu’s wish”, a shocking excuse that masks the administration’s complete abdication of responsibility. While I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy. I urge the government to implement urgent corrective measures to ensure the smooth conduct of Adapa Bije, Bahuda, Suna Besha, and other key Rath Yatra rituals,” he added.
Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik also blamed administrative negligence for the incident.