A tragic stampede near the Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, during the annual Rath Yatra has resulted in three fatalities and over 50 injuries. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, June 29, 2025, between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM, as thousands of devotees gathered to witness the rituals.

Key Factors Leading to the Stampede:

• Sudden Crowd Surge: A massive influx of devotees had congregated near the Shree Gundicha Temple for darshan. The incident happened shortly after "pahuda" (when deities sleep) got over and darshan of the deities on the three chariots resumed. Officials stated that darshan had started again at 3:45 AM, and around 1,500 devotees had gathered around the Gundicha temple. As thousands rushed in at once for darshan, a sudden crowd surge occurred, sparking panic. One witness recalled that there were already around 50,000 devotees present around 3:31 AM.
• Arrival of Trucks: Eyewitnesses reported that the situation worsened with the unexpected arrival of two trucks carrying "charamala" – makeshift wooden stairs used to carry deities to and from the chariots. The trucks attempted to navigate through the already congested area, intensifying the chaos. The narrowness of the congregation site, coupled with limited police presence and scattered palm-log ladders near the chariots, created hazardous conditions, according to a witness named Chinmay Patra.
• Poor Crowd Management: Many eyewitnesses and devotees have alleged inadequate crowd control measures. A witness stated that there were not enough police personnel to manage the gathering and that the mishap could have been prevented. Another eyewitness claimed that officials were primarily focused on VIP arrangements, neglecting the arrangements for general devotees and the management of charamala movement. Swadhin Kumar Panda noted that people were exiting from the entrance itself, further increasing the crowd.
• Unauthorized Vehicles: Concerns were raised regarding traffic management, with allegations that many vehicles possessing unauthorized passes were allowed near the temple.

Victims and Aftermath:

The deceased have been identified as Prativa Das (52), Premakanta Mohanty (78), and Basanti Sahu (42), all residents of the Khurda district. The injured were promptly taken to Puri District Hospital, with six reported to be in critical condition.

Government Response and Investigation:

The state government has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal and District Magistrate Siddhartha Shankar Swain have been transferred. Senior officer Pinak Mishra has been appointed as the new SP of Puri, and Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana will assume the role of the new District Magistrate. Additionally, two police officers, DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi, have been suspended. Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has stated that strict action will be taken following the investigation. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed regret over the "unforgivable negligence" and assured that anyone found guilty would face strict consequences.

Reactions and Criticisms:

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has strongly criticized the current administration's "glaring incompetence" in ensuring a safe and orderly Rath Yatra. He pointed out that the stampede occurred just a day after the mismanagement of crowds that resulted in injuries to hundreds. Puri's titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb, has urged the State Government to conduct a prompt and comprehensive inquiry to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.