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Time of India
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Set up real-time crowd estimate, new security SOPs: Majhi
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Two days after a stampede outside the Gundicha temple left three devotees dead and the govt coming under fire, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced setting up of a real-time crowd estimate system and stronger security SOPs to prevent future disasters. The annual Rath Yatra festival will conclude on July 8. Majhi, who had earlier expressed his deep regret and offered heartfelt apologies to Jagannath devotees over the stampede, visited Puri and conducted separate meetings with senior administrative officials, including chief secretary Manoj Ahuja and director general of police Y B Khurania, along with temple servitors. Majhi issued directives to authorities, ahead of significant events, including Sandhya Darshan (July 4), Bahuda Yatra (July 5), Suna Besha (July 6), and Niladri Bije (July 8) - all of which traditionally draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. "Extensive discussions have been conducted to ensure that the forthcoming ceremonies proceed without any unpleasant incident. We have implemented robust measures to address the challenges encountered during the last few days," Majhi said. The chief minister instructed the DGP to step up vigilance regarding crowd management and devotee security. He mandated the deployment of substantial police personnel, along with adequate ambulance services and emergency response units to handle any unforeseen circumstances effectively. "We anticipate massive gatherings of devotees in the coming days. We have assigned new collector, SP and other experienced officials to effectively oversee the Rath Yatra arrangements," said Majhi, who also conducted a separate consultation with servitors, seeking their vital cooperation for an incident-free festival. Earlier, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan engaged in detailed discussions with servitors, requesting their support for the orderly conduct of the Rath Yatra's concluding ceremonies. During these discussions, servitors expressed their disappointment, alleging that certain temple officials had branded them as 'unauthorized and ineligible' during Friday's Rath Yatra, thereby preventing their traditional access to the sacred chariots. "I have taken serious note of this unfortunate incident and extended my sincere apologies to the servitors," Harichandan said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Admin on alert for smooth conduct of Rath Yatra rituals
Puri: A day after Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued an apology to the devotees of Lord Jagannath for the 'unpardonable' negligence leading to the death of three persons in a stampede, the entire State administration was gearing up to ensure smooth conduct of the remaining rituals of Rath Yatra. The stampede took place near Shree Gundicha temple on Sunday during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities. The Gundicha temple is considered the aunt's place of the deities, where they stay for a few days during the annual festival. The Chief Minister's advisor and former DGP Prakash Mishra rushed to Puri and held discussions with various stakeholders to ensure a smooth conduct of the remaining rituals of Rath Yatra. Mishra was appointed as the advisor to the Chief Minister in January this year. Apart from serving as the DGP of Odisha, he has worked as the Director General of CRPF and NDRF. 'Now, we have to see how the remaining Rath Yatra rituals are carried out properly,' Mishra told reporters. Stating that the government has engaged all the 'experienced hands' after the stampede, Mishra pointed out that ADG Soumendra Priyadarshi has been in charge of overall police arrangements and he is an experienced person to handle such events. The new Puri Collector Chanchal Rana and new SP Pinak Mishra too have good knowledge about Puri temple affairs, he said. The first leg of the Rath Yatra - travelling of the deities from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple - was complete. Several other rituals of the festival will be conducted in the next few days. The administration anticipates a congregation of lakhs of devotees during rituals such as 'Sandhya Darshan' (July 4), 'Bahuda Yatra' or return car festival (July 5), 'Suna Besha' (July 6) and 'Niladri Bije' (July 8). 'We see a major challenge in the smooth conduct of the return car festival on July 5 when the three chariots will be pulled back to the main temple. Another event is on July 6 when the trinity will adorn Suna Besha (golden attire) on July 6. We anticipate a bigger crowd of devotees to throng Puri to witness the Lord's Suna Besha,' a senior police official said. This apart, senior bureaucrat Aravind Agarwal is assigned the job of overall monitoring of the Rath Yatra affairs. He is a former collector of Puri and has good knowledge of the Rath Yatra management, Mishra said. The Chief Minister's advisor appealed to the devotees to maintain discipline as all would get the opportunity to have 'darshan' of the deities. Meanwhile, Development Commissioner Anu Garg said she has been given 30 days to inquire into the stampede. 'I will soon visit Puri and take stock of the situation,' Garg told reporters in Bhubaneswar. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, 'The Sunday stampede incident was due to negligence on the part of some people. The government has already taken action and others will face action after the Deputy Commissioner submits report.' Harichandan said that the Deputy Commissioner's inquiry will focus mainly on three points - why the stampede took place, who are responsible and what more needs to be done to avoid such incidents in the future. The Puri Jagannath temple functions under the Law department of the State. Following the stampede, the Odisha government transferred the District Collector and the SP of Puri and also placed two senior police officers under suspension on the charge of dereliction of duty. While the rituals at Shree Gundicha temple went on smoothly on Monday, senior bureaucrat and former Puri Collector Aravind Agarwal held closed-door meetings with various stakeholders, including servitors of the 12th century shrine. He also discussed with people having sufficient experience in Rath Yatra management. Agarwal has sought the blessings of Lord Jagannath to smoothly carry out the responsibilities given to him by the State government, an official close to him said. According to temple records, so far 17 persons on five occasions died due to stampede since 2006. While the highest number of six persons were killed on July 4, 2008, during Rath Yatra, four others died on November 4, 2006, during the Kartik Purnima day. Similarly, two persons each died during Rath Yatra on July 21, 2012 and July 18, 2015. The latest stampede in Puri took place on June 29, 2025 where three persons have been killed. However, this is the first time that a stampede occurred outside Shree Gundicha temple a day after the pulling of chariots. The devotees on Monday had a smooth 'darshan' of deities after the police made special barricade arrangements near Shree Gundicha temple after the stampede incident, officials said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Govt reviews security, crowd management measures in Puri to ensure devotee safety
Bhubaneswar: In the wake of Sunday's stampede that claimed lives of three devotees outside Gundicha Temple in Puri, state govt has undertaken a comprehensive review of its security and crowd management protocols for the remaining rituals of Rath Yatra, scheduled to conclude on July 8 with Niladri Bije (return of the deities to Jagannath Temple). The chief minister's adviser, Prakash Mishra, who is camping in Puri, expressed his firm commitment to ensuring public safety. "The tragic incident has deeply affected us all, and we are determined to prevent any such occurrences in the future," Mishra, a retired DGP, told reporters on Monday. "We have mobilised our most experienced administrative and police personnel in Puri, working in close coordination with local administration to ensure the remaining festivities proceed without incident," Mishra said. Deputy CM Pravati Parida, who heads the recently constituted ministerial committee overseeing Rath Yatra arrangements, conducted an extensive inspection of Gundicha Temple on Monday. "Every life is precious to us, and we are implementing additional safety measures based on expert recommendations," Parida said. ADG-ranked IPS officer Saumendra Priyadarsi, specially appointed to oversee security arrangements following the tragedy, presented a detailed briefing on enhanced safety protocols to Mishra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Police sources said a revised multi-layered security system with special emphasis on crowd management and emergency response has been adopted. The govt has particularly focused on strengthening arrangements for three major events — Sandhya Darshan (July 4), Bahuda Yatra (July 5) and Suna Besha (July 6), which traditionally attract lakhs of devotees. "We have established multiple emergency response teams, additional entry and exit points, and deployed advanced crowd monitoring systems. Our priority is to ensure the safety of every devotee," a senior police officer said. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, said, "As servants of Lord Jagannath, we have completely surrendered to him. We have sought divine guidance and humbly apologised to the Lord for any shortcomings. We are committed to serving the devotees with utmost dedication." The administration has urged pilgrims to cooperate with security personnel and follow designated pathways and timings for darshan. Emergency medical facilities have been strengthened, with additional ambulances and medical teams stationed at strategic locations outside the Gundicha Temple, the birthplace of the sibling deities.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Odisha Government Orders Investigation After Fatal Puri Rath Yatra Stampede
Odisha's Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has condemned the tragic stampede that claimed three lives during the renowned Puri Rath Yatra celebration, calling the incident "deeply unfortunate" and promising decisive action following a comprehensive investigation. The deadly crowd surge occurred during the world-famous Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath in Puri, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries among devotees who had gathered for the sacred celebration. The incident has prompted immediate administrative changes and a thorough review of safety protocols. Speaking to media representatives, Minister Harichandan assured that the state administration would conduct a rigorous inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. He emphasized that appropriate measures would be implemented once investigative findings are complete, while expressing prayers for the welfare of all devotees affected by the incident. The Odisha government has initiated swift administrative action in response to the crisis. A senior-level administrative investigation has been commissioned under the supervision of the Development Commissioner. Additionally, significant personnel changes have been implemented, including the replacement of Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra and Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain with Chanchal Rana. Two officials, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi, have been suspended for dereliction of duty. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced substantial financial support for affected families, providing ₹25 lakh compensation to each family that lost a member in the stampede. The Chief Minister expressed profound grief over the tragedy and pledged that stringent action would be taken against responsible parties while implementing measures to prevent future incidents. Emphasizing Odisha's cultural heritage, the Chief Minister described the Rath Yatra as a source of regional pride and committed to maintaining both the safety and sanctity of this significant religious festival. Despite the tragic circumstances, temple authorities confirmed that ceremonial rituals proceeded smoothly throughout the event. Arabinda K Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, reported that the festival's traditional elements, including the chariots' journey to Shree Gundicha Temple, were completed according to established customs. He acknowledged devotees' cooperation and requested continued support for upcoming ceremonies, particularly the important Sandhya Darshan ritual scheduled for July 4. State Director General of Police YB Khurania noted that the Pahandi Bije ceremony concluded peacefully, with millions of devotees across the nation witnessing the sacred proceedings without additional disturbances. The annual Rath Yatra attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from throughout India, making crowd management a critical challenge for authorities. This recent tragedy has intensified focus on safety protocols and crowd control measures, with officials committed to implementing enhanced security arrangements for future religious gatherings to prevent similar incidents.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Puri Rath Yatra stampede: Law Minister vows action after probe into 'very unfortunate' incident
Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Sunday 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. Puri: Police officials visit the site after a stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple, in Puri, Odisha, after three people were killed in a stampede(PTI) 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." Following the incident, the state government has ordered a high-level administrative inquiry to be supervised by the Development Commissioner. Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra has been appointed in place of the previous SP, and Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain has been replaced by Chanchal Rana. Odisha DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi were also suspended for negligence of duty. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a financial assistance of ₹ 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. Meanwhile, Arabinda K Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Office in Puri, said that the rituals during the festival were carried out smoothly despite the unfortunate incident. "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. Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania also noted that the Pahandi Bije ceremony of Lord Jagannath was completed peacefully. "Just now, lakhs of people throughout the country witnessed the Pahandi Bije ceremony of Lord Jagannath. There was no disturbance anywhere," 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)
