Stampede-Like Situation: Case Filed At NHRC Against Opening Of One Door Of Jagannath Temple In Puri

Puri: Two days after the near-stampede situation at Singhadwar of Jagannath Tenple, here, a case has been filed at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the district and temple administration.

As per the case filed by Puri Vikash Parishad, allowing thousands of devotees to go inside the temple through only  one entrance is creating heavy rush at the gate. While the temple has four entrances, the administration keeps other gates closed due to ongoing beautification works, it pointed out.

The devotees, coming from different parts of the state as well as outside, have to wait for long hours under sun waiting for their turn to go into the temple. With temperature rising, it has become a strenuous task to wait in the queue that most of the times stretches upto 1.5 km.

The devotees, particularly women, children and elderly have to wait painstakingly wait directly under scorching sun for hours together. Besides, no adequate arrangements for providing shade have been made on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) for them to get respite from the heat. Drinking water supply is also lacking for them, the complainant alleged.

The Parishad also took exception to closing the only door at Singhadwar to the devotees for performing rituals of the deities in the main temple for hours together. It creates a panic situation leading to the unruly situation on Friday.

It stated that instead of closing the doors for performing different rituals, if the devotees are allowed to go inside to have darshan of the deities in other temples on the premises, the rush at the entrance can be brought down.

However, Chhatish Nijog, the servitors’ body of the temple, will take a decision in this regard at its next meeting, sources said.

It may be noted that two persons sustained injuries due to near-stampede situation at Singhadwar of the temple as hundreds of devotees broke the barricades and tried to go inside forcibly on ‘Dola Purnima’ on Friday.