The investigation report on the stampede event that happened on June 29 of this year near the Sri Gundicha Temple in Puri during the Rath Yatra was turned in by Development Commissioner Anu Garg on Thursday.
Notably, the Odisha government has mandated an administrative investigation into the sad accident, overseen by the state’s Development Commissioner, with a 30-day deadline for the report’s submission.
She was charged with determining the precise reasons behind the stampede, identifying any shortcomings in administrative or crowd control, and suggesting actions to stop similar occurrences in the future.
In order to facilitate a thorough and open investigation, the state administration has also asked the public to provide any pertinent data, video, or other supporting documentation.
Garg ultimately delivered the report to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the Lok Seva Bhavan here on Thursday evening.
Garg recorded testimony from a variety of people and organizations, including servants, police officers, members of the public, and others, during public hearings she held in Puri and Bhubaneswar during the investigation.
It is important to note that the catastrophic stampede occurred in Saradhabali, which is close to the Gundicha Temple in Puri, early on June 29, 2025, between 3.50 and 4.20 a.m.
During the Rath yatra festival, the tragedy happened as Lord Jagannath and his siblings’ chariots were parked close to the Sri Gundicha Temple.
Three devotees were killed in the stampede on June 29, which was reportedly caused by a large crowd (larger than in previous years due to favorable weather), two trucks entering to remove the sacred Charamala wood from the chariots, and the unannounced reopening of the deities’ darshan in the early hours of the morning.
Following this, CM Majhi apologized to Lord Jagannath’s followers and mandated an urgent inquiry into the security breaches.
Additionally, Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Police Superintendent Vinit Agrawal were fired by the Odisha government.
Due to their failure to perform their duties, two further senior police officers, Commandant Ajay Padhee and DCP Vishnu Pati, have been suspended. Additionally, the government promptly stated that the families of the pilgrims who had died would each get an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh.
Read More
In Q1, EBITDA from incubating firms increased by 5% to Rs 2,800 crore: Adani Enterprises
Anticipate facilitating stronger commercial ties between Vietnam and India: Gautam Adani