Three individuals, two of whom were women, lost their lives and ten others sustained injuries in a stampede that occurred during the Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. This incident took place when the three chariots, which were transporting the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Shubhadra, approached the Shree Gundicha Temple, located approximately three kilometers from the Jagannath temple, where the Yatra commenced.

At around 4:30 am today, the sacred chariots reached the Gundicha temple, attracting a large crowd eager for darshan. As the number of attendees increased, some individuals fell, triggering a stampede. Three individuals died at the scene, including two women, Prabhati Das and Basanti Sahu, along with 70-year-old Premakant Mohanty. Reports indicate that all three were residents of Khurda district and had traveled to Puri for the Rath Yatra.

Local news sources have indicated that the police’s crowd control measures at the location were insufficient. According to reports, the condition of several injured individuals is critical.

Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated that the bodies of the deceased have been sent for autopsy, and the examination will determine the precise cause of death. He mentioned that adequate security measures were implemented; however, the crowd unexpectedly became uncontrollable, resulting in this tragic event.