Latest news with #148thJagannathRathYatra
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ahmedabad: Video of man beating elephant sparks outrage; forest dept starts inquiry
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat forest department started an inquiry on Saturday after a video of a man repeatedly beating a female elephant in Ahmedabad was widely shared on social media platforms, including X. The 43-second footage of the person, reportedly a mahout (handler), striking the elephant around 19 times with a stick has sparked widespread outrage (Video grab) The 43-second footage of the person, reportedly a mahout (handler), striking the elephant around 19 times with a stick has sparked widespread outrage among citizens, including animal welfare advocates. The forest department has begun an inquiry into the alleged animal abuse case, an official said. This incident comes two days after a single male elephant, Babulal—startled by loud DJ music and shrill noises—ran amok near Desai ni Pol in Khadia, causing panic during the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Friday. With 17 elephants, 101 trucks, 30 akhadas, 18 bhajan groups, and three bands, the annual procession—drawing thousands to pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur along a 16-kilometer route—began around 7 am and was proceeding smoothly until 10.15 am, when the elephant bolted, scattering devotees. Two people, including a woman police officer, were injured while trying to flee. Police, mahouts, and forest staff tranquilized the elephant within 15 minutes and removed it, along with two female elephants, Janaki and Rani, who also showed signs of distress during the procession. The remaining 14 elephants continued the 16km journey. An official, requesting anonymity, said that the person seen beating the elephant in the recent video was present at the Rathyatra procession on June 27 alongside the elephants. 'We have initiated an inquiry to verify the authenticity of the video, which began circulating on the evening of June 27. The person beating the female elephant appears to be a mahout, though we are confirming this. During the Yatra, the female elephants gave a distress call, prompting Babulal to respond due to their strong bond. The elephants were disturbed by loud music, whistles, or colorful balloons. These three elephants are relatively new to large public events. In the footage, Babulal appears to be trying to escape, with the female elephants showing similar discomfort,' chief conservator of forests in Ahmedabad K. Ramesh said. Condemning the cruelty captured in the video and calling for systemic change, animal activists have raised concerns about the welfare of captive elephants. Many suspect that the harsh conditions during the Yatra—30°C temperatures, tar-covered roads, heavy decorations, and loud sounds—may have caused stress among the elephants, potentially triggering the handler's mistreatment. The elephant is listed as a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which grants it the highest level of legal protection. Any harm caused to it is a serious offence, punishable with 3 to 7 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹ 25,000, a forest official said.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Day after it ran amok during Jagannath Rath Yatra procession, elephant shifted to temple's farmhouse
A day after an elephant ran amok during a procession taken out to celebrate the 148th Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, the animal was relocated to the farmhouse of the Jagannath Temple Trust in Pirana on Saturday. At least two people were injured in the incident. Dr R K Sahu, Director of Kankaria Zoo in Ahmedabad, told The Indian Express, 'While welcoming the elephants, the people started playing loud DJ music, which made the male elephant panic. Since it was a group of three elephants, the females also followed but they were calmed immediately after.' It was due to the swift thinking and action by a joint team of the zoo authorities, forest officials, police, as well as the temple trustees and the owners of the elephant, that the situation could be brought under control, said Sahu. The first response was to tranquilise the male elephant and shift it to a calm surrounding, Sahu said. He said, 'As soon as the incident occurred, we rushed to tranquilise the male elephant. The three elephants were taken far from the crowd. While the females were brought back to the Jagannath temple as they were calm immediately without being tranquilised, the male elephant was taken to Gujri Bazar area of the riverfront, where it was tied down and allowed to calm down.' Later, Vantara, led by Reliance scion Anant Ambani, helped in the relocation of the 14-year-old elephant. 'Around midnight, once the Vantara ambulance arrived, the elephant was taken to the farmhouse of the Jagannath temple in Pirana as it was considered that it would be best to shift the elephant to the farmhouse instead of taking it back to the temple,' the director said. Sahu added that it was the Chief Conservator of Forest, Dr K Ramesh, who requested Vantara for assistance in handling the elephant. In a statement on Saturday, Vantara said, 'Vantara deployed a specialised emergency team to Ahmedabad following an incident involving three elephants running amok during the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in the city.' 'The team included two wildlife veterinarians, six senior mahouts, eleven trained support staff, and five elephant ambulances equipped to provide emergency medical care and behavioural support. Vantara's team assisted the local authorities with the medical assessment of the affected bull and cow elephants, offering behavioural and psychological support, and ensuring safe containment where necessary,' said the release. The statement also quoted Ramesh as well as Mahendra Jha, trustee members of Jagannath temple, stating that Vantara's 'immediate support' had helped in ensuring 'relocation of the elephants for better care'. 'Following the recent incident involving elephant unrest during the Rath Yatra, we reached out to Vantara for immediate support. Their team responded swiftly from Jamnagar and coordinated with local authorities and animal handlers to arrange for their relocation for better care,' stated Dr K Ramesh, Chief Conservator of Forest, Gujarat. Sahu added that the temple trustees will decide how long they wish to keep the male elephant in the farmhouse. Sahu said, 'For the moment, the elephant is at the farmhouse. It is now for the trustees to decide if and when they wish to shift it back to the temple premises.' 'The elephant has been part of the Rath Yatra for over four years, but on this occasion, the sudden loud music led to the incident,' he added.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Gujarat: Bhupendra Patel monitors Rath Yatra in real-time from CM dashboard
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 27 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday monitored the real-time progress and organisation of the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad. Commencing the Rath Yatra from the Jagannath Temple in the morning with the Pahind ceremony, he closely monitored the Rath Yatra route in the afternoon via a video wall, after reaching the Chief Minister's residence. According to an official release, he gathered insights about the location of the chariot, the surveillance of the Rath Yatra, and the security arrangements being implemented by the police using AI and drone technology. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister and Home Department MK Das, Director General of Police Vikas Sahay, along with senior officials from the police, municipal corporation, and ICT teams. Meanwhile, Patel today stated that education is the foundational pillar of a developed society and a progressive state. He emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always given special importance to schools, teachers, and education. On the second day of the Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav and Shala Praveshotsav 2025, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Beej, Chief Minister Patel visited the Primary School in Pundrasan village, Gandhinagar district. He welcomed 197 children into the school by gifting them educational kits. The Chief Minister also interacted affectionately with the young children, encouraging them to pursue learning with enthusiasm, said the release. CM highlighted that to raise awareness about the importance and necessity of education and to build an educated future generation in Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi launched the statewide Shala Praveshotsav initiative in 2003. As a result of this sustained effort, parents and communities today have come to understand and value the role of education deeply. The Chief Minister stated that the Gujarat Government has launched several education-focused schemes to ensure no child is deprived of schooling due to financial challenges. He urged parents to utilise these schemes and take responsibility for their children's education. He noted that government schools are now equipped with modern facilities, such as smart classrooms, and that improved teaching methods have led many students to shift from private to government schools. The Chief Minister also highlighted that communities are actively working to promote education, with the state government extending full support to such efforts. (ANI)
India.com
5 days ago
- India.com
Gujarat: Anti-Drone Guns Deployed For 148th Rath Yatra In Ahmedabad As Part Of Tight Security Measures
As part of heightened security measures for the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, the Crime Branch has deployed anti-drone guns developed by Bangalore-based AXISCADES Aerospace & Technologies Pvt Ltd to monitor the 16-km procession route, officials said on Friday. According to officials, the advanced equipment is designed to detect and jam unauthorised drones, ensuring that only drones authorised by the administration remain operational along the yatra route. Speaking to ANI, Prashant Sharma, Anti-Drone Gun Operator at AXISCADES, said, "This technology is a detection and jamming unit for drones. We have supplied 100 of these units to the Indian Army Northern Command. It was successfully used in Operation Sindoor... We add the department's drones to our list. Other drones are highlighted in red colour (in our cameras), so we ask the official whether to jam them or not." Meanwhile, a large number of devotees participated in the procession on the occasion of Ashadhi Bij (Kutchi New Year) in Ahmedabad on Friday. Officials said that the deployment of the anti-drone system is part of broader efforts to ensure safety during one of the city's major religious events, which draws massive crowds each year. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi also spoke to ANI about the scale of the security arrangements in place. "Lakhs of devotees come for Darshan during the Rath Yatra along its 16-km route. More than 23,800 security personnel have been deployed. A few elephants lost control this morning, but within minutes, forest officials, the police team, and the AMC managed to bring the situation under control. Forest and medical teams are present with all the elephants," he said. Meanwhile,the grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Odisha's Puri on Friday, as thousands of devotees began pulling the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, amid chants, drumbeats, and spiritual fervour. Following the completion of key rituals, including the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping ceremony) performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the deities were ceremonially placed on their respective chariots -- Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana. With the blowing of conch shells and rhythmic beating of cymbals and mridangas, the pulling of the chariots began along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), marking the start of the deities' annual journey. The 'Chhera Pahanra' is one of the most significant customs of the Rath Yatra, symbolising humility and equality before the divine. During the ritual, the Gajapati Maharaja, the erstwhile King of Puri and chief servitor of Lord Jagannath, swept around the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra with a golden broom, sprinkling sandalwood water and flowers, and invoking blessings to purify the path of the divine journey. Dressed in traditional attire, the Gajapati Maharaja arrived in a royal procession from the Puri royal palace to the Grand Road, where the deities were placed on their respective chariots. His ceremonial act represents the deep intertwining of royalty and devotion in Jagannath culture.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Elephants Run Amok During Ahmedabad's Jagannath Rath Yatra, Devotees Flee In Panic
Last Updated: A video of the terrifying moment, shared by news agency PTI, shows the exact sequence of chaos. In the footage, mahouts can be seen desperately trying to restrain the elephants The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Thursday was disrupted when a group of elephants, brought in as part of the traditional procession, suddenly went out of control. The unexpected chaos forced several devotees and bystanders to flee as the massive animals charged through the crowded streets, sending people scrambling for safety. VIDEO | Gujarat: Chaos erupted during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad as elephants went out of control and trampled people. Further details awaited.(Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos – — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 27, 2025 A video of the terrifying moment, shared by news agency PTI, shows the exact sequence of chaos. In the footage, mahouts can be seen desperately trying to restrain the elephants as they panic and veer off course. One elephant charges straight into the crowd, forcing people to scramble for safety through the narrow lanes and congested streets. The 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad began early Friday morning, drawing thousands of devotees eager for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra. As per tradition, members of the Khalasi community ceremoniously pulled the three elaborately decorated chariots out of the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur. The grand procession is expected to traverse a 16-kilometre route through the old city, including several communally sensitive areas, before returning to the temple by 8 pm. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with his family, offered prayers at the temple, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the 'pahind vidhi,' the symbolic ritual of cleaning the road with a golden broom. The scale of the procession is immense, featuring 18 elephants, around 100 decorated trucks, 30 akhadas (local gyms), and multiple devotional groups known as 'bhajan mandalis'. Over the course of the day, an estimated 14-15 lakh devotees are expected to line the streets to witness the centuries-old tradition. To ensure safety, authorities have deployed nearly 23,800 security personnel, including 4,500 officers walking alongside the yatra and nearly 2,000 managing traffic. An AI-based surveillance system has been introduced for the first time to detect overcrowding or fire hazards, sending real-time alerts to the control room. Additionally, security is being monitored through 41 drones, 96 fixed cameras, 25 watchtowers, and 2,872 body-worn cameras linked directly to the police command center. In the run-up to the event, authorities conducted extensive community outreach with peace committees, women's groups, mohalla committees, and religious leaders to maintain communal harmony during the massive gathering. First Published: June 27, 2025, 13:02 IST
