No Stampede During Puri Rath Yatra, Two Devotees Died, Says Odisha Government

The Odisha government has confirmed the deaths of two devotees during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri while firmly rejecting reports of a stampede or crowd management failure.

Officials said the world-famous festival concluded peacefully despite heavy rainfall and the presence of nearly eight to nine lakh devotees from across Odisha, India and abroad.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said devotees celebrated the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshana with deep devotion and extensive administrative support.

Despite persistent rain, authorities completed all traditional rituals, including the pulling of the three chariots, as scheduled, while Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya offered prayers at the chariots.

The state government said it had made elaborate arrangements well in advance by coordinating with the Police, Health Department, Fire Services, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Transport, Municipal Administration, Public Health Engineering, Energy Department and other agencies.

Authorities deployed extensive security personnel, CCTV surveillance, public announcement systems, traffic management measures, emergency response teams, medical facilities, sanitation services and drinking water arrangements to ensure the safe movement of devotees.

The government said heavy rain and the massive turnout caused cases of fatigue, dehydration and other health issues.

Authorities rushed seven devotees to hospital, where one elderly devotee later died.

In a separate incident, another man suffered a cardiac arrest and died despite medical treatment. Doctors treated several other devotees and discharged them after recovery.

ଗଞ୍ଜାମ ଜିଲ୍ଲା କନିଷି ତହସିଲର ପରି ଦାସ ଏବଂ ହରି ଦାସଙ୍କର ଦୁଃଖଦ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ପ୍ରାଣହାନି ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଗଭୀର ଶୋକ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ସହ ମୃତକଙ୍କ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି। ଏଥିସହ ପ୍ରତି ମୃତକଙ୍କ ପରିବାରର ନିକଟତମ ଆତ୍ମୀୟଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରିଲିଫ ପାଣ୍ଠି (CMRF)…

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) July 16, 2026

The Odisha government reiterated that no stampede occurred and said effective crowd management by security personnel, servitors and volunteers ensured the festival remained peaceful.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi thanked devotees and officials for their cooperation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safe and well-managed festivals.