Puri: After terming the Saradhabali stampede an ‘unforgivable negligence’, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday ordered for transfer of Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vineet Agrawal.
DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have also been suspended for negligence of duty.
According to the CMO release, Khurda collector Chanchal Rana will take charge as the new collector of Puri while Pinak Mishra, currently serving as STF DIG, will replace Agrawal as the new SP. “Administrative inquiry has been ordered under the supervision of the Development Commissioner,” it said.
Swain has been shifted to the General Administration department and Agrawal to the State Police Headquarters as OSD.
The CM has also announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each for the next of the kin of the deceased devotees. “Mahaprabhu’s Rath Yatra is a matter of pride and honour for the Odia community. No negligence will be tolerated in this regard. Exemplary actions will be taken against all responsible individuals,” he said.
Also Read: Odisha CM Calls Saradhabali Stampede ‘Unforgivable Negligence’, Apologises To Jagannath Devotees
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 early this morning.
The Tragic Incident & Eyewitnesses Account
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.
The deceased have been identified as Premakant Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42).
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. I cried for help, but the cops ran away, and didn’t provide even a drop of water… For administrative officials, we are like a herd of sheep and goats. Why was a truck allowed to enter the place where there were 50,000 devotees? This is a pathetic incident that cannot be expressed…,” a man, who lost his wife in the stampede, told the media.
Swadhin Kumar Panda, a resident of Puri, alleged that there were no police or administration officials at Saradhabali last night. “I was there near the temple till 2-3 am last night. A new way was made for VIPs, and common people were asked to exit from a distance. Following which, people started exiting from the entrance itself, which increased the crowd. The traffic system was also not good, as many vehicles with unauthorised passes were seen near the temple. The administration did not control the crowd properly. The biggest problem was the exit gate,” he said.
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.
