A deadly stampede near the Gundicha Temple in Puri resulted in the deaths of three devotees and injuries to several others on Sunday. The incident occurred at Saradha Bali, where devotees had gathered to witness the deities on their Raths after the Rath Yatra. Identified as Premakanta Mohanty (80), Basanti Sahoo (36), and Prabhati Das (42), the victims lost their lives in the stampede. According to reports, the stampede occurred between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM. The chaos allegedly began when two trucks, carrying wooden logs, tried to enter the crowded area, which was also littered with palm-log ladders. A perceived lack of police presence may have contributed to the severity of the situation. The state government has been facing criticism regarding the management of the Rath Yatra, with a significant number of devotees requiring medical assistance on Saturday due to exhaustion and overcrowding. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has announced a high-level inquiry and offered his condolences. Locals stated that this is the first time a fatal stampede has occurred outside the Gundicha Temple.
