A stampede near the Gundicha Temple in Puri on Sunday led to the deaths of three devotees and injuries to several others. The incident occurred at Saradha Bali, where a large number of devotees had gathered to view the deities on their Raths. The victims have been identified as Premakanta Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42). The stampede is reported to have taken place between 4:00 and 5:00 AM. Accounts from eyewitnesses suggest that the stampede was triggered by two trucks carrying wooden logs trying to enter the already crowded area where palm-log ladders were scattered. The incident has raised concerns about the management of the Rath Yatra, especially after criticism of the government’s handling of the event on the previous day. The state government has announced a high-level inquiry following the incident, and law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. Local sources confirm that this is the first fatal stampede to occur outside the Gundicha Temple.
