Puri Stampede Inquiry Report Submitted to Odisha CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Development Commissioner Anu Garg on Thursday submitted her inquiry report on the tragic Puri stampede of June 29 to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

The incident had claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured near the Srigundicha temple, a day after the grand Rath Yatra.

The stampede unfolded in the early hours of June 29 at Saradhabali, where thousands had gathered for Adapa Darshan, the ritual viewing of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on their chariots.

In the wake of the tragedy, the state government acted swiftly, transferring then Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Superintendent of Police Vinit Agrawal. Two senior police officers were also suspended for dereliction of duty.

Expressing deep regret over the mishap, Chief Minister Majhi had issued a public apology and announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

Following the CM’s directive, the Development Commissioner was tasked with investigating the circumstances leading to the incident. As part of her probe, Garg recorded statements from devotees, servitors of the Jagannath Temple, Puri district officials, police personnel and other stakeholders involved in managing the crowd.

The contents of the report are expected to guide future protocols to prevent such tragedies during large-scale religious congregations in the temple town