Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede incident during the Rath Yatra in Puri, which claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured. The Maharaja has prayed for the repose of the departed souls at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu Jagannath and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Key Points:
- Gajapati Maharaja's Reaction: The Maharaja expressed shock and sadness over the incident, describing it as "most unfortunate".
- Request for Inquiry: He has urged the state government to conduct a prompt and comprehensive inquiry into the incident to identify the causes and prevent similar incidents in the future.
- Preventive Measures: The Maharaja has requested the government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of devotees and prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
The state government has taken swift action in response to the incident, including replacing the Puri District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, and suspending other officials for negligence in duty.
An administrative inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident.