Odisha Govt Suspends Senior Officers Over Puri Rath Yatra Stampede

In a swift and decisive response to the tragic stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri that resulted in the death of three devotees, the Odisha government has taken a series of administrative steps to ensure accountability and enhance future safety measures.

Following a high-level review meeting, the government removed Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Superintendent of Police Vinit Agrawal from their posts.

The Odisha government appointed Chanchal Rana, Collector of Khordha, as the new Puri Collector, and assigned DIGP of the Special Task Force, Pinak Mishra, as the new Superintendent of Police in Puri.

Officials suspended for lapses

The government also suspended DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhee for dereliction of duty, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance on lapses during the Rath Yatra.

The state has also ordered a formal inquiry into the incident under the supervision of Odisha’s Development Commissioner, Anu Garg.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and apologised publicly to Lord Jagannath’s devotees.

“Personally, my government and I seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees,” he stated on his official X handle.

He extended condolences to the families of the deceased—Pravati Das, Premkant Mohanty and Basanti Sahoo—and prayed for their strength in coping with the loss.

Early morning tragedy

The stampede occurred in the early hours between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM near the Gundicha Temple in the Saradhabali area.

The incident highlighted serious lapses in crowd control and safety management during one of the most revered and well-attended religious events in the country.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the state government announced ₹25 lakh ex gratia for the families of each deceased devotee.

CM Majhi also reaffirmed that the government would not tolerate any negligence in managing such a sacred event.

“The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is the pride and honour of the Odia people. Exemplary action will be taken against those responsible,” he emphasised.

To strengthen on-ground coordination, the Odisha government assigned Arvind Agrawal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department, to oversee the Car Festival proceedings in Puri.

The government’s actions reflect an urgent effort to restore public trust and ensure that future celebrations of the Rath Yatra uphold both the spiritual sanctity and the safety of devotees.

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