3 Killed, Dozens Injured in Eastern India Hindu Festival Stampede

A sudden crowd surge during the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival in Puri, Odisha, eastern India, resulted in three deaths and over a dozen injuries as thousands of Hindu devotees gathered to see the deities. The surge occurred near the Gundicha Temple as devotees jostled to catch a glimpse of the deities atop the chariots, causing some to faint, feel suffocated, or become breathless. Authorities confirmed that 15 people were hospitalized, with three pronounced dead and autopsies planned to determine exact causes. Odisha officials acknowledged a failure in crowd management, with former top elected official Naveen Patnaik criticizing the government for its apparent negligence and lack of preparedness. The state's top elected official, Mohan Charan Majhi, apologized and promised concrete action against those responsible, while an investigation into the incident has been launched to review safety protocols. This tragedy adds to a pattern of deadly stampedes during large religious gatherings in India, highlighting ongoing challenges in crowd control at major events.