Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed grief over the stampede that occurred during the Rath Yatra in Puri, which claimed three lives and left several devotees injured.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Gandhi conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.

Calling the mishap “extremely tragic,” Gandhi urged the Odisha government to expedite relief operations and ensure that the affected families receive all necessary support. He also appealed to Congress workers to extend every possible assistance on the ground.

“This tragedy is a serious warning,” Gandhi said, highlighting the importance of proper planning and management for large-scale religious gatherings like the Rath Yatra. “Security arrangements and crowd management preparations must be taken seriously and thoroughly reviewed. Protecting lives is paramount, and no lapses in this responsibility are acceptable.”

About the stampede

A stampede near the Gundicha temple in Puri in the early hours of Sunday claimed three lives and left several devotees injured, marring the Rath Yatra festivities.

The incident occurred around 4:00 AM when thousands had gathered near the chariots of Lord Jagannath and His siblings for darshan on Saradhabali.

According to eyewitnesses, a truck carrying wooden logs arrived at the spot, where more than 500 devotees were sitting on plastic mats as they were waiting to have a glimpse of the deities on the chariots after the conclusion of the pahuda ritual.

The situation turned chaotic when workers began unloading wooden logs from the truck, as the limited area became densely filled with people. This triggered panic among the devotees. In the sudden rush that followed, several people were trampled.

Many also alleged lack of adequate police deployment to control the crowd.