Puri stampede LIVE: CM orders major shake-up, reassigns experienced officers
Witnesses allege lack of adequate police deployment during morning rituals, delayed response; Odisha govt promises Rs 25 lakh to next of kin of deceased
At least three people were killed and over 50 injured in a stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple at Saradhabali in Odisha's Puri during festivities as part of Rath Yatra on Sunday (June 29).
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has ordered the transfer of District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vineet Agrawal following the stampede.
Terming the “negligence” leading to the stampede as “unpardonable”, Majhi also announced the suspension of two police officers — DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi — an official release said.
The Odisha government will provide financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, the release added.
Six people critical
According to Swain, who has since been transferred, the incident took place around 4 am when hundreds of devotees gathered near the temple, where the chariots of the three deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra – have been stationed.
As part of the annual festival, the three deities are taken in chariots from the Sree Jagannath Temple to their aunt’s place, Sree Gundicha Temple, where they stay for seven days before returning to the main temple.
Also read: Rath Yatra: Devotees resume pulling chariots in Puri
The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, and the condition of six people is critical, Swain said.
The deceased were identified as Basanti Sahu from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty and Pravati Das from Balipatna.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is underway.
What caused the stampede?
Reports by local media quoting eyewitnesses say that while a large number of devotees had gathered at Saradhabali in the wee hours of Sunday, a rush occurred, causing panic and confusion when two trucks carrying ‘charamala’ arrived at the spot. Charamala are makeshift wooden stairs that are used to help carry deities to or down the chariots.
Reports say that ‘Pahuda’ was observed around 12.30 am and ‘darshan’ of the deities resumed at 3.45 am. It was around this time that the crowd surged, following which the stampede occurred.
According to OTV, several eyewitnesses have alleged that there was no police deployment in the area to handle the crowd.
Also read: Puri Rath Yatra: Over 600 people fall ill due to heat, overcrowding
“When this incident happened, no one responded, neither the fire officials, nor the rescue team, nor the hospital team. This is a pathetic incident that cannot be expressed..." ANI quoted a man who lost his wife in the stampede.
‘Will take necessary action’
DGP Y B Khurania and senior government officials are at the spot to take stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said he has apprised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi about the incident.
“We will take all the necessary action,” Harichandan said.
Also read: Rath Yatra 2025: Puri gears up with enhanced security, AI surveillance
The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra had on Saturday reached Shree Gundicha Temple, a day after the Rath Yatra began in Puri. The temple is considered the aunt's place of the deities, which go there every year from the 12th-century Jagannath temple, situated at a distance of 2.6 km, as part of the rituals. The return car journey, known as Bahuda Yatra, will be held on July 5.
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Live Updates
- 29 Jun 2025 7:56 PM IST
CM orders administrative overhaul
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a major administrative shake-up following the stampede.
With several crucial Rath Yatra events approaching, he has reassigned experienced IAS and IPS officers to ensure tighter coordination and public safety.
In a decisive move, ADG (Police Modernisation) SK Priyadarshi has been placed in overall charge of police arrangements for the Rath Yatra and related rituals in addition to his existing responsibilities.
Senior bureaucrat Saswata Mishra has been appointed as Principal Secretary to the CM, a post lying vacant since Nikunja Dhal proceeded on central deputation.
Mishra will also continue as Principal Secretary, Finance Department, and Chairman, IDCO.
The CM has also engaged former Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal as the overall in-charge of the Rath Yatra.
The administrative action came swiftly after the stampede sparked nationwide outrage. Within hours, Puri Collector Siddharth Sekhar Swain and Puri SP Vinit Agarwal were removed from their posts.
Additionally, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended from service.
DIG STF Pinak Mishra has been appointed as the new Puri SP. Despite his promotion to DIG rank, Mishra has been directed to function as SP during the Yatra, citing the critical nature of the role. Sources confirmed he assumed charge within hours of the transfer order.
- 29 Jun 2025 3:22 PM IST
Puri’s titular king seeks prompt, comprehensive inquiry
Puri’s titular king Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb has expressed shock over the stampede and appealed to the Odisha government to immediately carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
The titular king, who is also the chairman of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, urged the state government to take proper and immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of any such incident.
“Shree Gajapati Maharaja has appealed to the state government to carry out a prompt and comprehensive inquiry regarding this most unfortunate incident and to take proper and immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents,” his office said in a statement.
Deb said he was “shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the stampede last night near Shree Gundicha Temple in which three devotees lost their lives and many others were injured”.
He also offered prayers for the departed souls and conveyed his deep condolences to the members of the bereaved families.
- 29 Jun 2025 3:20 PM IST
Better arrangements should have been made: Dharmendra Pradhan
Expressing grief over the stampede deaths, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the management should have made better arrangements.
“The management there should have made better arrangements... I express my condolences,” the Union education minister, who hails from Odisha, told PTI Videos at Panihati in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.
Stating that he has spoken to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as well the local administration in Puri, he said that Majhi and the administration have taken charge of the situation “responsibly”.
- 29 Jun 2025 3:13 PM IST
Collector, SP transferred; 2 cops suspended
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has ordered the transfer of District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vineet Agrawal following the Puri stampede.
Terming the “negligence” leading to the stampede as “unpardonable”, Majhi also announced the suspension of two police officers — DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi — an official release said.
The CM appointed Khurda District Collector Chanchal Rana as the new collector of Puri. Agrawal will be replaced by Pinak Mishra as Puri SP.
Majhi also ordered an administrative inquiry into the matter to be carried out under the supervision of the development commissioner.
The Odisha government will provide financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, the release added.
