Latest news with #SiddharthSwain
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Festival stampede kills three near Indian temple
A sudden crowd surge at a Hindu festival in India's coastal state of Odisha on Sunday triggered a stampede that killed at least three people and injured several others, local government officials said. Thousands of devotees had gathered near Gundicha temple in the city of Puri for celebrations of an annual Hindu chariot festival. "There was a sudden surge in the crowd. Nine devotees experienced breathlessness and were taken to hospital. While three died, the others are in stable condition," Siddharth Swain, a district administrative official, told reporters. Local media reported that several other festivalgoers were injured, but the officials could not immediately confirm. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the "tragic incident" occurred due to the "overwhelming rush of devotees". Police personnel and relatives of victims who lost their lives in a crowd surge at a Hindu religious procession wait outside a postmortem centre at a government hospital in Puri, India, on Sunday. AP "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." Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes are a common occurrence at Indian religious festivals. In May, six people were crushed to death in the state of Goa after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual. And in January, at least 30 people were killed in an early morning crush at the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega-festival in the northern city of Prayagraj. Agence France-Presse
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Festival stampede kills three near Indian temple
BHUBANESWAR: A sudden crowd surge at a Hindu festival in India's coastal state of Odisha on Sunday triggered a stampede that killed at least three people and injured several others, local government officials said. Thousands of devotees had gathered near Gundicha temple in the city of Puri for celebrations of an annual Hindu chariot festival. 'There was a sudden surge in the crowd. Nine devotees experienced breathlessness and were taken to hospital. While three died, the others are in stable condition,' Siddharth Swain, a district administrative official, told reporters. Local media reported that several other festivalgoers were injured, but the officials could not immediately confirm. 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.' Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes are a common occurrence at Indian religious festivals. In May, six people were crushed to death in the state of Goa after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual. And in January, at least 30 people were killed in an early morning crush at the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega-festival in the northern city of Prayagraj.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Three killed, 6 injured in stampede at Indian chariot festival
29 June 2025 11:28 BHUBANESWAR, INDIA (AGENCIES)Three people were killed and six injured in a stampede during a festival in eastern India on Sunday, officials incident occurred at dawn as thousands of Hindu devotees gathered at an annual chariot festival in Puri."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."There was a sudden surge in the crowd. Ninees devotees experienced breathlessness and were taken to hospital. While three died, the others are in stable condition," Siddharth Swain, a district administrative official, told media reported that several other festivalgoers were injured, but the officials could not immediately 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."This negligence is unforgivable. I have directed an immediate investigation into the safety lapses and exemplary actions will be taken against those responsible."Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes have claimed several lives at recent religious festivals in IndiaIn May, six people were crushed to death in the state of Goa after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual. And in January, at least 30 people were killed in an early morning crush at the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega-festival in the northern city of Prayagraj.
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Rath Yatra 2025: Puri gears up for sibling deities' grand annual journey today
Rath Yatra 2025: A large crowd has assembled to take part in the Jagannath Rath Yatra as the annual festival is set to begin on Friday in Puri. District Magistrate Siddharth Swain and Superintendent of Police Vineet Agarwal shared updates on the planning efforts to guarantee a safe and orderly event. Authorities confirmed that comprehensive security measures have been put in place for the Yatra. Puri DM Siddharth Swain told ANI, 'The three chariots have been brought to their designated place for their Gundicha Yatra. Elaborate security arrangements have been made. NSG is also present here.' "Today, Mahaprabhu's Rath Yatra will take place. Devotees in huge numbers will gather in Puri. Police have made adequate preparations. All measures for public safety, crowd management and public convenience have been taken. Traffic facilitation has been taken care of. Central agencies have also assisted... The Rath Yatra will be conducted smoothly. Our surveillance teams will remain present at the integrated control room. We also have anti-drone teams. They took down three drones today. Except for the friendly drones, action will be taken against any other drone movement," Puri SP Vineet Agarwal added. Pooja Anand, a devotee, said, 'I have come from Mumbai. It is an out-of-this-world experience. I have been a devotee for 20 years, but this is my first time here. It is a divine experience... I want to pull the chariot. This is one day of the year when the Lord comes out of his abode and blesses the 'jagat', the universe... Everyone should come here and seek blessings... The weather here is very pleasant. It rained all night…' Gundicha Marjana (Temple Cleaning): June 26 Rath Yatra (Chariot Procession): 27 June 2025 (Friday) Bahuda Yatra (Return): July 4–5 Suna Besha (Golden Attire): July 5–6. Niladri Bijay (Final Return): July 8. Keeping in view the huge footfall, Odisha DGP Y B Khurania said elaborate security arrangements have been made for the event. The civil and police administrations are on high alert as lakhs of devotees will witness the annual event under tight security. Over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed across Puri and on the roads to Konark, 35 km away and famous for the 13th-century Sun Temple, for surveillance. Apart, the DGP said that the National Security Guard (NSG) snipers will take positions on rooftops along Grand Road in front of the temple. Police drones, anti-sabotage teams, bomb squads, and dog squads are also deployed. The Marine Police, Coast Guard, and Indian Navy will secure the seafront, he said. Puri: Devotees perform the 'Gundicha Marjana' ritual on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra festival, at Gundicha Temple in Puri, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (PTI Photo) Meanwhile, IMD in its evening bulletin forecast said thunderstorms with lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph likely to occur in several districts including Puri on Friday. Mahaprabhu's Rath Yatra will take place. Devotees in huge numbers will gather in Puri. Police have made adequate preparations. Comprehensive security measures have been put in place for the Yatra. While the Indian Railways runs 365 trains to Puri, the Odisha government has engaged around 800 buses to transport devotees from different districts. (This is a developing story)
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
"Join Rath Yatra with faith and devotion": Odisha CM Majhi extends warm welcome to devotees
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi extended a heartfelt welcome to devotees on the occasion of the annual Rath Yatra, urging them to participate with utmost faith and devotion. In his message, CM Majhi said, 'Join the Rath Yatra with faith and devotion, witness the divine glimpse of Mahaprabhu atop the chariot, and receive His blessings.' Preparations for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, set to commence on Friday in Puri, are in their final stages, with elaborate arrangements in place for the grand festival. Preparations for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, set to commence on Friday in Puri, are in their final stages, with elaborate arrangements in place for the grand Magistrate Siddharth Swain and Superintendent of Police Vineet Agarwal provided updates on the planning underway to ensure a smooth and secure event. Officials stated that elaborate security arrangements have been made for the DM Siddharth Swain stated, 'The three chariots have been brought to their designated place for their Gundicha Yatra tomorrow. The preparations are in the final stage. The rituals inside the temple are also underway in their sequence. Elaborate security arrangements have been made. NSG is also present here.' The temple town of Puri is all set to witness the Jagannath Rath Yatra, 2025, that commences the festival, devotees draw the grand chariots of the three deities--Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister goddess Subhadra--to Gundicha Temple, where the deities reside for a week and then return to the Jagannath Rath Yatra ceremony is expected to attract a large crowd, making traffic management a key issue. (ANI)
