Three killed, six injured in stampede at chariot festival in Puri, India
BHUBANESWAR, (India): Three people were killed and six injured in a stampede during a festival in eastern India on Sunday (June 29), officials said.
"Three people have died and six sustained injuries; none of them are serious and all are out of danger," YB Khurania, director general of police in the state of Odisha, told Reuters.
The incident occurred at dawn as thousands of Hindu devotees gathered at an annual chariot festival in Puri, said a senior administrative officer told Reuters.
He asked not to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
The Statesman reported that the stampede occured near the Gundicha temple (Temple of Lord Jagannath's aunt) in Puri during wee hours on Sunday, police said.
The mishap took place at around 4.20am in front of three chariots of Lord Jagannath and His siblings—Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Apparently, poor crowd management and inadequate police deployment resulted in the tragic mishap.
There was no presence of police or security forces anywhere near the chariots as the crowd surged to catch a glimpse of the deities during the morning hours.
It was some local youths who tried to control the crowd and saved several people from getting stuck in the stampede.
But for their timely voluntary act, the death toll might have been much higher, said eyewitnesses.
AFP reported that 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 social media platform 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."
Stampedes occur routinely during large Hindu gatherings in the world's most-populous country, as huge crowds gather in tight spaces, often ignoring safety protocols.
In January, at least 39 people were killed in a pre-dawn stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, northern India. - Reuters, The Statesman, AFP
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