Three people have been killed with six others injured in a stampede during an Indian Hindu Chariot Festival on Sunday in the coastal state of Odisha, local government officials have confirmed.
According to Siddharth Swain, a district administrative official, the tragic incident occurred in the early morning near Gundicha Temple in Puri, about 63 km south of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha.
“The chaos unfolded when the chariot-pulling ritual began and all three chariots were parked in front of the temple. The devotees, eager to catch a glimpse of the deities atop the chariots, jostled and fell upon each other,” Swain told reporters.
“Three people have died and six sustained injuries; none of them are serious and all are out of danger,” Y.B. Khurania, director general of police in the state of Odisha, also said.
“Around 4.30 am today, the holy chariots were at the Gundicha temple and a large crowd had gathered for a darshan. As the crowd swelled, some people fell and a stampede began.
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“Three people died on the spot. These include two women, Prabhati Das and Basanti Sahu, and 70-year-old Premakant Mohanty. All three are from Khurda district and had come to Puri for the Rath Yatra,” he added.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, said the “tragic incident” occurred due to the “overwhelming rush of devotees.”
“I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” Majhi posted on X, adding that a probe was launched.
“This negligence is unforgivable. I have directed an immediate investigation into the safety lapses, and exemplary actions will be taken against those responsible,” he added.
