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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Puri Rath Yatra stampede puts BJP on back foot as BJD, Congress raise storm
While the BJP government in Odisha claims to have taken 'swift action' following Sunday's stampede during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri that claimed three lives, the incident seems to have jolted the party days after it went all out to celebrate its first year in power. While BJP insiders admit that the incident has dented the government's image and has led to the party putting off the election of its state chief, the Mohan Charan Majhi dispensation has also come under fire from the Opposition. 'A high-level committee of ministers headed by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida was constituted to oversee (Rath Yatra) preparations. Has anyone seen the panel members on the ground? Are they not responsible for the mess? Why has action not been taken against them?' an Opposition leader asked. A smooth conduct of the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri has traditionally been seen in Odisha as public validation for successive governments. During a review meeting with the administration on June 22, the Majhi government directed that the Rath Yatra must be 'incident-free'. The Majhi government, which barely had a month last year to prepare for the annual event, pulled out all stops this year and started preparations for the 'memorable event' barely a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally on June 22 in Bhubaneswar, where he said that the BJP government was completing one year in power while the state was gearing up for the Rath Yatra. Last Friday, the BJP government came under attack for the delay in pulling the chariot of Lord Jagannath, which only moved a few metres before the day ended. It also came under attack for 'lapses' in crowd management that left over 200 devotees ill. As per tradition, in the Rath Yatra, also known as Gundicha Yatra, the Lord along with his siblings – elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra – embark on a nine-day sojourn from their 12th century shrine to the Gundicha Temple, their birthplace, covering a distance of around 3 km. After a ceremonial procession called 'Pahandi', the deities are taken to the Gundicha Temple on three large chariots, where they stay till the 'Bahuda Yatra' (return car festival), which is scheduled for July 5 this year. Millions of people join the procession to pull the chariots. BJD chief and ex-CM Naveen Patnak, who is now Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, took to social media to slam the government's 'incompetence' in conducting the Puri Rath Yatra. 'The stampede, which occurred just a day after the abysmal failure to manage crowds during the Rath Yatra, exposes the government's glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for the devotees,' he said in an X post on Sunday. Calling the incident a 'man-made disaster', the Congress slammed the Majhi government, accusing it of 'prioritising VVIP movements during the event over safety of common people'. Despite attacks from the Opposition, state law minister Prithviraj Harichandran tried to justify the delay claiming 'everything happens according to the Lord's wish'. After the procession reached the Gundicha Temple, Harichandran said the Yatra had been 'incident-free'. Hours after his remarks, a swelling crowd advanced towards the chariots around 4 am on Sunday leading to a stampede. Making matters worse, two vehicles carrying materials for the rituals entered the spot. Eyewitnesses said the ensuing 'chaos' lasted for 20 minutes, claiming there were no policemen or senior officials to help the devotees. With no system in place for ambulances to move freely, relatives of the devotees pulled out the injured from the crowd and shifted them to hospitals. 'My wife and others would have been saved had there been arrangements for the smooth movement of ambulances,' said the husband of a deceased woman. Almost immediately after the stampede, CM Majhi ordered an administrative probe, shunted out the Collector and SP of Puri and suspended two senior police officers for 'dereliction of duty'. He also apologised to the devotees, indicating the sensitivity of the issue. A major administrative shake-up has also been initiated with a senior bureaucrat and a police officer, who have prior experience of handling the Rath Yatra, being roped in to supervise the remaining event. The move is being seen as the government's effort to restore the people's faith in the administration. While the probe is scheduled to be completed in a month, preliminary reports suggest lack of coordination between administrative wings, poor planning by the police and deploying inexperienced officers to manage the situation led to the incident. State BJP chief Manmohan Samal expressed concern over the incident but said the state government 'took the right decision at the right time'. 'We will be careful to ensure that such incidents do not recur,' he said.
India.com
18 hours ago
- General
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani plays big role during Jagannath Rath Yatra, he sends team for...
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani plays big role during Jagannath Rath Yatra, he sends team for... In the wake of the tragic stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra that claimed three lives and left several others injured, newly appointed Superintendent of Police (SP) Pinak Mishra and Puri Collector Chanchal Rana on Monday assured that elaborate safety measures are now in place across the temple town. Jagannath Rath Yatra stampede The news of the loss of lives sparked a wave of condolences from across the political spectrum. Leaders expressed deep sorrow over the incident, acknowledging the devotion of the victims and urging authorities to ensure stricter crowd control mechanisms in the future. As the sacred chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra rolled out, the heavy rush led to chaos and overcrowding, which triggered the incident. How Vantara helped during the Jagannath Rath Yatra stampede? Following the incident, Anant Ambani's wildlife rehabilitation facility, Vantara, dispatched veterinarians, senior mahouts, and ambulances to control and calm the elephants that were distressed during the Rath Yatra. The Gujarat government also contacted the Jamnagar facility for help. As a result, the elephants were transported to Vantara for appropriate mental care and treatment. Wildlife rescue center Vantara stepped in immediately this past week to help when several elephants became startled during the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra. They deployed veterinarians, trained elephant handlers, and specialized ambulances to the elephants affected. Vantara noted that the elephants in the procession showed fright, and as a result, there was fear and panic among the people in the crowd. Vantara also highlighted the issues surrounding the use of animals in highly populated and high-stress environments. According to a statement from Vantara, the incident, in which elephants involved in the procession appeared panicked, resulting in chaos and concern among onlookers, also raised concerns about the use of animals in high-stress, crowded environments. The statement said that state forest officials contacted Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar, for help after the event. While speaking to news agency PTI, Dr K Ramesh, chief conservator of forests in Gujarat, said,' Their team responded swiftly and professionally, working closely with our officials and local animal handlers to assess the elephants' condition and ensure their safe relocation.' He stated that Vantara's team provided immediate medical treatment and trauma support, and conducted behavioural assessments on the affected elephants. He said the animals are under continual care at Vantara's facility, which is purposely built for this circumstance. Furthermore, the statement stated that Vantara dispatched an emergency team of veterinarians, senior mahouts, and specially-equipped elephant ambulances to the site. What is Vantara? How is it related to Ambanis? Vantara, located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is a state-of-the-art animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation center established by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation. Spanning an impressive 3,000 acres within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex, this sanctuary serves as a hub for wildlife care and preservation. It is the vision of Anant Ambani and focuses on addressing critical issues like habitat loss, human-animal conflict, and poaching. The center is home to over 2,000 animals across 43 species, supported by cutting-edge facilities such as advanced veterinary equipment, spacious enclosures mimicking natural habitats, and an expert team of over 2,100 staff. Vantara not only promotes animal welfare but also aims to educate visitors on conservation efforts and the importance of biodiversity. Anant Ambani's Vantara project reportedly costs around? According to several media reports, Anant Ambani's Vantara project reportedly costs around $150 million (around Rs 1200 crore), which includes the establishment of high-tech wildlife rehabilitation centers, eco-sensitive infrastructure, elephant kitchens, advanced medical care units, and lush habitats that mimic the natural ecosystems of rescued animals. Mahendra Jha, a trustee with the Shree Jagannath Mandir Trust Committee, said, 'We deeply appreciate Vantara's dedication to animal welfare. Their timely intervention ensured that the elephants received the attention and rehabilitation they urgently required.' (With agencies' inputs)
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
VVIT University celebrates Jagannath Rath Yatra
Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology (VVIT) University celebrated the Jagannath Rath Yatra with grandeur and spiritual fervour, drawing hundreds of devotees, students, and faculty to a vibrant procession, on Tuesday. The yatra began at the Sri Bhramaramba Malleswara Swamy temple in Pedakakani and concluded at VVIT University's campus in Namburu. VVIT chairman Vasireddy Vidyasagar flagged off the procession, which resonated with the chants of 'Jaya Jayahe Jai Jagannath' as devotees, students, and members of ISKCON, Mangalagiri, walked in unison. Residents of Gollamudi village greeted the procession with traditional 'arti' and floral offerings, adding cultural warmth to the event. Upon reaching the VVIT campus, ISKCON members performed a special puja and Maha Aarti, marking the culmination of the yatra.
India Today
a day ago
- Health
- India Today
Why elephants for temple events? Gujarat Rath Yatra chaos revives old debate
On June 27, the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, drawing some 1.5 million devotees every year, descended into chaos when three elephants, integral to the annual ceremonial procession, ran amok in the crowded Khadia area. The trigger was loud music and whistle-blows that prompted a 14-year-old male elephant to break barricades and charge into a narrow lane, two panicking female elephants in tow.A viral video captured mahouts struggling to restrain the animals as people ran for cover, one elephant veering directly towards the crowd. Police, zoo officials and forest staff acted swiftly, tranquilising the male elephant within 15 minutes and herding away the female were no fatalities but two people, including a woman police officer, suffered minor injuries. The male elephant was isolated and relocated to the Jagannath Temple Trust's farmhouse in Pirana, with assistance from Vantara, a wildlife welfare initiative led by Anant Ambani; the remaining 14 elephants from the Rath Yatra continued the 16-km-long routine veterinary checks conducted ahead of the yatra, the male elephant had showed signs of psychological distress, such as swaying and head bobbing, possibly triggered by environmental stressors—loud music and dense crowds—common in urban festival settings. Elephants, highly intelligent and social, are sensitive to noise and confinement. A 2019 study by the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad found that captive elephants exhibited elevated stress hormones in long, tiring religious ceremonies, leading to hyperglycemia (raised blood sugar levels), suppressed immune responses and neuronal cell death. Such conditions, exacerbated by chaining and prolonged work, as possibly was the case in Ahmedabad, can cause unpredictable behaviour, posing risks in crowded environments where escape routes are India, in a statement, warned of the inherent risks of forcing elephants into noisy and crowded environments, and underlined that the incident in Ahmedabad could easily have resulted in mass India, elephants are revered in Hindu tradition. They symbolise wisdom, strength and divine connection, particularly associated with Lord Ganesha. Their use in temple processions, such as the Rath Yatra or those in Kerala, adds grandeur and spiritual significance. These traditions are rooted in centuries-old customs wherein elephants even carry deities or lead around the country maintain captive elephants. Animal activists say they are often sourced from the wild despite a 1977 ban on captures, using loopholes allowing for 'gifting' of animals. These elephants are typically kept in chains, subjected to harsh training with bullhooks, and forced to endure long hours in noisy, crowded settings. This leads to foot injuries and psychological distress, including symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder, as observed in African elephants after habitat the dangers, the Heritage Animal Task Force, an animal welfare body, reported 540 human deaths in Kerala between 2007 and 2024 from incidents of elephants running amok at 2024, at least 14 incidents were reported across India in which captive elephants turned violent. In the first few months of 2025, over 20 captive elephants used in religious processions in Kerala became distressed and aggressive, resulting in six human deaths and numerous injuries. In January, Pakkath Sreekuttan, a stressed male elephant, injured 24 people and killed one during a Kerala festival. In May, at the Thrissur Pooram, two elephants caused chaos, injuring 42 in 2013, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, maintained by a Kerala temple and famous as the tallest captive elephant in India, had killed three women at a temple festival. The tusker had previously been banned on account of similar behaviour. These tragedies stem from elephants' inability to cope with unnatural environments, far removed from their ideal habitats of sprawling forests or savannas and water, and minimal human advocate alternatives such as mechanical elephants, pioneered by PETA India. These life-like robots, capable of mimicking elephant movements, have been adopted by at least 19 temples in South India; ten of these were donated by PETA mechanical elephants, made of rubber, steel and fibre, are three metres tall and weigh 800 kilos. 'They can lift their trunks, flap ears, swish tails, and carry idols or individuals for ceremonial purposes. Mounted on a wheelbase and powered by electricity, they can be easily moved through processions without causing suffering or endangering lives,' noted the PETA such elephant, Devi Dasan, was launched this March at the Sree Balabhadrakali temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Experts argue that such innovations eliminate animal suffering while preserving ceremonial the Rath Yatra incident, PETA India appealed to the Gujarat government for a policy decision to prohibit the use of elephants in public processions and offered to donate life-size mechanical elephants free of cost to any temple of the government's choosing so long as the temple pledged never to own or hire living suggestions include stricter regulations on elephant use, mandatory rest periods for the animals and sanctuaries for rehabilitation, as proposed by PETA India after a 2024 incident wherein an elephant killed a mahout. These measures prioritise safety and compassion, addressing the ethical and practical challenges of using elephants in India's religious to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Administrative lapse, callousness": BJD's Mohanty demands resignation of Odisha Law Minister over Puri stampede
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 1 (ANI): Biiju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Lenin Mohanty on Monday lashed out at the 'administrative lapse and callousness' of the concerned authorities which led to the stampede during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra a day earlier on June 29 and demanded the resignation of State Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan. The BJP leader said that the officials and ministers concerned with the law and order situation during the Rath Yatra were absent during the stampede. Speaking to ANI, Mohanty said, 'We are extremely sad for the incident that has happened. This is the land of Lord Jagannath and people love to come to that place. During the annual rath yatra, a stampede took place on Sunday due to administrative lapse and callousness.' 'A team of 5 ministers was constituted, they were not there when the stampede took place, nor were the officials. When the stampede happened, these five ministers and the top-level officers were not there. An apology is not sufficient. Immediately after that, the real culprit should be punished. They just transferred the collector and DSP,' he said. Adding further, he said, 'The real culprit is the law minister (Prithviraj Harichandan). He always boasts high but has very low performance. He should take moral responsibility and he should resign...' Karnataka Congress MLC BK Hariprasad also reacted to the stampede and said, 'The BJP always tries to take political advantage of every situation. The Rath Yatra, which has been ongoing for thousands of years, has never experienced anything like this before. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has the entire responsibility, and he should resign immediately...' Meanwhile, as an administrative inquiry began into the Puri stampede, Development Commissioner Cum Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha, Anu Garg, spoke to mediapersons and said, '... 30 days are given in which we have to tell the reason behind this unfortunate incident and what measures can be taken so nothing like this happens in the future. We will speak with everyone and review all possible footage. What SOPs were there, and what were followed? After checking everything, the report will be submitted to the gov...' Earlier on Sunday, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan described the stampede that occurred during the annual Puri Rath Yatra as 'very unfortunate' and said appropriate action will be taken after the completion of an investigation. Three devotees lost their lives and several others were injured during the crowd surge at the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. 'The incident is very unfortunate. The state government has taken strict action and a senior officer will investigate the incident... We will take action once we get the report of the investigation,' Harichandan told reporters. He added, 'Mahaprabhu, with his wish, gives darshan to his devotees... Tomorrow, the devotees will have the opportunity to offer prayers... I prayed to Mahaprabhu for the well-being of everyone.' Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the families of each of the deceased devotees. He also assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible and pledged to prevent such tragedies in the future. 'Rath Yatra is a source of pride for Odisha,' the Chief Minister said, adding that the safety and sanctity of the festival would be safeguarded at all costs. 'The chariots in the Rath Yatra reached Shree Gundicha Temple on June 28, and as per tradition, they visited their birthplace the next day. Unique and mesmerising rituals were conducted today very smoothly... We acknowledge the support and cooperation of the devotees... The important ritual will be the Sandhya Darshan on July 4. We request all the devotees to cooperate and follow the given instructions,' he said. The annual Rath Yatra is a significant religious event in Odisha, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country. The recent stampede has cast a shadow over the celebrations, prompting authorities to review crowd management and ensure stricter safety protocols in the coming days. (ANI)
