A devastating stampede occurred during the Rath Yatra festivities in Puri, Odisha, resulting in the deaths of three devotees and injuring around 50 others. The incident took place near the Gundicha Temple, approximately 3 kilometers from the main Jagannath Temple, at around 4:30 am on Sunday.
According to sources, a large crowd gathered in front of the chariot, leading to a stampede near Gundicha Temple in Puri.
The victims are identified as Basanti Sahu, 36, from Bolagarh; Premakant Mohanty, 80; and Parvathi Das, 42, from Balipatna.
Reportedly, around 50 people were injured, with six in critical condition.
The injured were rushed to Puri District Hospital for treatment
Puri District Collector Siddharth S. Swain confirmed the death toll and assured that all possible medical and safety measures were being taken
The Odisha government has ordered a probe into the incident to determine the causes and identify measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.