Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra Stampede: 3 Dead, Over 50 Injured Near Gundicha Temple

A stampede occurred near the Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in the early hours of Sunday, June 29, 2025. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least three devotees and injuries to more than 50 others.

The stampede took place at Saradhabali, close to the Gundicha Temple, as the three chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra arrived for the 'pahada' ritual. The surge happened between 1:30 am and 2:00 am when a large number of devotees moved forward simultaneously.

The deceased include two women and a 70-year-old man, all from Khurda district in Odisha. More than 50 individuals were injured, and at least 12 are in intensive care. One critically injured person was transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for further treatment.

On Saturday, around 750 devotees received medical attention for exhaustion and other crowd-related issues during the Yatra.

Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik expressed condolences over the deaths in the Saradhabali stampede during Rath Yatra in Puri. In a sharp statement, he blamed the administration for poor crowd management and highlighted the lack of official response at the scene. Patnaik urged the government to take immediate corrective measures for the upcoming rituals.

Officials have initiated an investigation into the incident. Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated that further action will follow based on the findings of the investigation. Medical teams are continuing to monitor the condition of those injured.