PURI, ODISHA – Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is poised to determine accountability for the tragic Puri stampede that occurred on June 29, 2025, during the Rath Yatra festivities, after receiving the administrative inquiry report. The report, submitted by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Thursday, July 31, 2025, within the stipulated 30-day deadline, details the circumstances that led to the incident, which claimed three lives and left dozens injured near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri.
The incident has heightened calls for improved crowd management and safety protocols at major religious congregations across India, particularly in temple towns like Puri.
The state’s Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, affirmed that appropriate action would be taken based on the probe report’s findings. “The incident is very unfortunate. The state government has taken strict action and a senior officer will investigate the incident. We will take action once we get the report of the investigation,” Harichandan had stated shortly after the tragedy, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The Tragic Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The stampede occurred in the early hours of June 29, between 3:50 AM and 4:20 AM, near the chariots stationed at Saradhabali, close to the Shree Gundicha Temple. Thousands of devotees had gathered for darshan (sacred viewing) of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, following their arrival at Gundicha Temple as part of the annual Rath Yatra. Reports suggest that a combination of a massive crowd, larger than in previous years due to favorable weather conditions, and the unexpected entry of two trucks to remove sacred Charamala wood from the chariots, contributed to the panic and subsequent crowd surge.
The three deceased were identified as Basanti Sahu (36) from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty (80) and Pravati Das (42) from Balipatna. Over 50 individuals sustained injuries and received medical attention at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital.
Immediately following the stampede, Chief Minister Majhi expressed deep sorrow and apologized to the devotees, describing the incident as “unforgivable negligence.” He promptly announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹25 lakh (approximately $30,000 USD) to the next of kin of each deceased person. In a swift response, the government also transferred the Puri District Collector, Siddharth Shankar Swain, and Superintendent of Police, Vinit Agrawal, and suspended two other senior police officials, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhee, for alleged dereliction of duty, according to reports from IANS.
The Inquiry and its Scope
Development Commissioner Anu Garg was tasked with conducting a comprehensive administrative inquiry into the incident. Her mandate included identifying the exact causes of the stampede, pinpointing any lapses in crowd control or administrative management, and recommending measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
During the inquiry, Garg conducted extensive public hearing sessions in both Bhubaneswar and Puri. She recorded statements from 67 individuals, including eyewitnesses, police personnel, servitors (temple priests), temple officials, district administration representatives, and victim families. The investigation also involved a review of CCTV footage, video clips, and still pictures of the incident, providing a multi-faceted approach to understanding the tragedy.
While the specifics of Garg’s findings and recommendations have not yet been made public, officials have indicated that the report will serve as a crucial basis for the government to understand the operational lapses and implement enhanced safety measures for devotees in the future. The servitors of the Puri Jagannath Temple have called for the report’s findings to be made public, emphasizing the right of devotees worldwide to understand the circumstances that led to the tragedy, as reported by The Times of India.
Broader Implications for Crowd Management
The Puri stampede underscores the persistent challenges in managing large crowds at religious festivals in India. These events often attract millions of devotees, putting immense pressure on existing infrastructure and security arrangements. The incident in Puri follows other similar tragedies in recent years. For instance, in late July 2025, a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, claimed six lives and injured many others. Earlier in 2025, stampedes were also reported at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, during the Maha Kumbh Mela, and at New Delhi Railway Station, further highlighting the recurring nature of such crowd management failures.
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Experts frequently emphasize the need for robust crowd control mechanisms, including effective entry and exit points, clear signage, real-time crowd monitoring using technology, adequate deployment of trained personnel, and rapid emergency response systems. The Odisha government‘s actions following the Puri incident, including the immediate removal and suspension of officials, signal a commitment to addressing accountability and improving future event management.
The Chief Minister’s decision on accountability, once announced, is expected to set a precedent for how the state addresses safety and negligence in large public gatherings, particularly those with deep religious significance. The focus remains on learning from this tragedy to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safety and sanctity of revered festivals like the Rath Yatra.
