Stampede in Rath Yatra? Odisha CM Denies Crowd Crush, Says Festival Was Peaceful Despite Two Deaths

Bhubaneswar, July 16: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has dismissed reports suggesting a Stampede in Rath Yatra, stating that the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri concluded peacefully without any crowd crush or failure in crowd management. The clarification came after two devotees died during the festival, raising concerns among the public.

The Chief Minister said the deaths were not caused by a stampede or any breakdown in security arrangements. According to an official statement, the world-famous Rath Yatra remained peaceful, orderly and well-managed despite heavy rainfall and an unprecedented gathering of devotees.

Odisha CM Rejects Stampede Claims

Addressing concerns over the two deaths reported during the festival, Mohan Charan Majhi said there was no incident of stampede throughout the Rath Yatra.

He stated that emergency response teams acted promptly whenever devotees complained of health-related issues, ensuring quick medical assistance.

Two Devotees Died Due to Medical Emergencies

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), several devotees experienced fatigue, dehydration, suffocation and other rain-related health problems during the festival.

Seven devotees who fell ill were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals.

Officials said:

One elderly male devotee, aged above 60 years, died. The exact cause of death is still being determined.
Another male devotee, aged above 35 years, suffered a cardiac arrest and died despite receiving immediate medical treatment.
Several other devotees recovered after receiving timely medical care and were discharged from hospitals.

The Odisha government reiterated that these deaths were not linked to any stampede or crowd management failure.

Nearly 9 Lakh Devotees Attend Puri Rath Yatra

The Odisha government estimated that 8 to 9 lakh devotees from across India and abroad participated in the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri.

Despite continuous rainfall, all major rituals, including the pulling of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, were completed according to schedule.

Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya also offered prayers before the chariots during the festival.

Massive Security and Medical Arrangements

The state government had deployed extensive security and emergency measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

These included:

Multi-layer police deployment
Health department teams
Fire Services
Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF)
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
CCTV surveillance
Public announcement systems
Traffic management
Drinking water facilities
Sanitation services
Emergency medical response teams

The Chief Minister praised the coordinated efforts of government officials, police personnel, servitors and volunteers, saying their dedication ensured the safe movement of devotees throughout the day.

Rath Yatra Conducted Peacefully Despite Heavy Rain

Mohan Charan Majhi expressed satisfaction that the internationally renowned Jagannath Rath Yatra concluded successfully despite persistent rainfall and a massive turnout of devotees.

He also appreciated the discipline and cooperation shown by devotees, stating that their support played a key role in the successful completion of one of India’s largest religious festivals.

The Odisha government has urged the public not to believe rumours regarding a Stampede in Rath Yatra, maintaining that the festival remained peaceful and that the two reported deaths were due to medical causes rather than any crowd-related incident.