A tragic stampede near the Gundicha Temple in Puri on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least three devotees and injuries to several others. The incident occurred at Saradha Bali, where a large crowd had gathered to view the deities on their chariots following the Rath Yatra. The deceased have been identified as Premakanta Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42). The stampede took place between 4:00 and 5:00 AM, reportedly triggered by two trucks carrying wooden logs attempting to enter the already congested area. Eyewitness accounts suggest a lack of adequate police presence exacerbated the situation. This incident adds to the concerns surrounding the management of the Rath Yatra, with the state government facing criticism. The preceding day, approximately 750 devotees required medical attention due to exhaustion and crowd-related issues during the Rath Yatra procession. A high-level inquiry has been announced by the Odisha law minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, who also expressed condolences for the loss of life. This marks the first fatal stampede outside the Gundicha Temple, according to local sources.
