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3 Dead In Stampede At Gundicha Temple During Puri Rath Yatra In Odisha, 6 Critical; 50 Injured

Rath Yatra Stampede: A heavy rush near the entry gate of Gundicha Temple during Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, led to the death of three persons.

Stampede at Rath Yatra in Puri.
Photo : PTI

At least three people died in a stampede near Sri Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, during Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. Aroumnd 50 others were injured in the incident that took place early morning at 4:20 am, said an official. Of these injured, six are in critical condition, an hospital official added.
A sudden rush for entry into the temple led to chaos. As per the information, there was already overcrowding and then a truck entered the crowd, causing panic. Eyewitnesses report inadequate police presence.
Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan confirmed three deaths and injuries to news agency ANI. “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,” he told ANI on phone.

“Six to seven people are injured. I am moving 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 added.
Ex-Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the incident and said, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who have lost their lives in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali, #Puri and I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha for the swift recovery of the devotees injured in this devastating incident.”
“Today’s stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the #RathYatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees. 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,” he further said.

This comes a day after three women died while on their way to participate in Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri after they were run over by a bus on a highway connecting Bhubaneswar and the coastal pilgrim town, police said. The deceased women were travelling on a two-wheeler when a motorcycle hit them, causing the vehicle to fall.
The trio came under the wheels of a government bus, and two died on the spot. One woman succumbed to her injuries while being taken to Pipili community health centre, the police station inspector-in-charge, Soumendra S Tripathy said, quoted PTI.
The victims were identified as Rimijhimi Priyadarshini Sahu, Elina Das, and Kajal Das. While two were from Kendrapada district, the third one was a resident of the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the death of the women and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased persons from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
In another case, a man, identified as Shibaram Behera, died after coming under the wheels of a chariot during Rath Yatra in Shikula village under the jurisdiction of Purushottampur police station in Ganjam district on Friday.

 

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