Poonam Nath

Jagannath Rath Yatra Stampede: 3 Dead due to suffocation and 10 Injured

Digital Desk: Devotees coming out to join the pious Rath Yatra turned tragic after 3 people lost their lives and several others were injured in the stampede which took place early Sunday morning near Shree Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri. 

The three victims are identified as Basanti Sahu, Premakant Mohanty, and Pravati Das, their death was caused due to suffocation, stated as per reports.

The incident happened about 4.30 a.m. today, when three Raths bearing idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Shubhadra were near Shree Gundicha Temple, about three kilometers from Jagannath Temple, where the Yatra began and a large crowd had assembled for a darshan. As the crowd grew, some people fell and a rush ensued.

Odisha law minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated that the state government would conduct a thorough investigation into the stampede incident and take stern action against anybody found guilty.

Furthermore, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi called a meeting of his deputies after three people were murdered in a stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra on Sunday. Following the meeting, Puri DCP Bishnu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi were suspended, while Puri Collector Siddharth S Swain and SP Binit Agarwal were transferred.