Puri Rath Yatra Stampede Spurs Probe, Officers Suspended

A stampede during the Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, killed three devotees and injured over 50 when an estimated 20,000 people crowded a restricted area near the Gundicha Temple, with chaos triggered by the arrival of trucks carrying ritual materials. Eyewitnesses and media blamed inadequate crowd control and police presence for the tragedy. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi called the lapses 'unforgivable,' initiated a 30-day administrative probe, transferred top district officials, suspended two police officers, and announced Rs 25 lakh compensation per victim's family. Opposition parties, religious leaders, and the public sharply criticized the incident, demanding accountability and improved safety. Puri's titular king and chairman of the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee called for a comprehensive inquiry. All injured have now been discharged from hospital, and the government has pledged stern action against those responsible.