In the wake of a tragic stampede during the world-renowned Puri Rath Yatra, which claimed the lives of three devotees and injured over 100, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken decisive action, initiating a high-level inquiry and suspending key officials over gross mismanagement and security failures.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday, disrupting the concluding phase of the annual religious event. The victims — Basanti Sahu, Premakanta Mahanti, and Prabhat Das — lost their lives in the overcrowded chaos that followed a sudden stampede. Grieving over the loss, CM Majhi announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased devotee.

Top Officials Removed, Inquiry Commissioned

Acting swiftly, the Chief Minister has directed Development Commissioner Anu Garg to conduct an immediate administrative inquiry into the incident. Simultaneously, significant personnel changes have been made:

• Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Binit Agrawal have been relieved of their duties and appointed as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) in the General Administration Department and Police Headquarters, respectively.

• DCP Bishnu Prasad Pati, who was in charge of Rath Yatra security, and OASP Commandant Ajay Kumar Padhi have been suspended for negligence.

• DIG (STF) Pinak Mishra and Khordha DM Chanchal Rana have taken over as the new SP and DM of Puri, respectively.

Government Prepares for Further Action

The oversight of the Rath Yatra management has now been entrusted to Arvind Agrawal, Higher Education Secretary and a former DM of Puri. Demonstrating urgency, Agrawal cancelled his leave and rushed to Puri on Sunday morning.

Sources indicate that further action may be taken against senior officials including Additional DG Dayal Gangwar and Police DG Y.B. Khurania for their failure to ensure coordination and crowd control.

Warnings Ignored Despite Pre-Festival Reviews

Despite a detailed preparatory review conducted by a ministerial panel led by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on June 19, lapses in crowd regulation and the ineffectiveness of the Integrated Command Control Room contributed to the disastrous outcome. CM Majhi criticised the lack of seriousness displayed by officials and promised strict accountability.

Majhi Vows Justice and Systemic Reform

The government has stated that the findings of the official probe, to be submitted after the Niladri Bije (the return of the deities to the temple), may trigger harsher measures against those responsible. CM Majhi reaffirmed his commitment to uphold the sanctity and safety of the Rath Yatra, stating that exemplary action will be taken to prevent such negligence in the future.

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Top Officials Transferred and Suspended for Negligence

 Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken decisive action following the tragic stampede near Shri Gundicha Temple in Puri during the Rath Yatra, which claimed the lives of three devotees and left over 50 injured. Describing the incident as “inexcusable negligence,” the state government has initiated strong disciplinary steps against several senior officers directly responsible for crowd control and event management.

Puri DM and SP Transferred

In a major administrative reshuffle, Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain has been transferred and appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Public Administration Department. He will be replaced by Chanchal Rana, who will now serve as the new District Magistrate of Puri.

Similarly, Puri SP Binit Agarwal has also been removed from his post. He is to be succeeded by IPS officer Pinak Mishra, who has previous experience serving in Puri and is familiar with managing large-scale events like the Rath Yatra.

Suspensions Ordered for Senior Officials

Further, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended pending investigation for lapses in duty during the Rath Yatra. These suspensions reflect the state’s commitment to accountability and crowd safety during religious gatherings.

New Appointment for Rath Yatra Oversight

The state government has appointed Arvind Agarwal, currently serving as Secretary of the Higher Education Department, with additional charge of overseeing Rath Yatra management. He will supervise all arrangements and coordinate with officials to ensure smoother conduct of the remainder of the festival. This directive was issued by the Public Administration Department to strengthen oversight and prevent further mishaps.

Rs 25 Lakh Compensation for Families of the Deceased

In a gesture of support, Chief Minister Majhi has announced an ex-gratia assistance of ₹25 lakh each to the families of the three devotees who lost their lives in the stampede. The announcement was shared via his official handle on social media platform ‘X’.

High-Level Meeting Held at CM’s Residence

Earlier today, the Chief Minister chaired a high-level emergency meeting at his residence to review the situation and finalize the actions to be taken. Following the meeting, the CMO issued a notification detailing the transfers, suspensions, and compensation packages.

Restoring Public Trust and Ensuring Safety

The CM’s prompt response is being seen as an effort to restore public confidence and address the shortcomings in crowd management that led to the fatal incident. With upcoming events like Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha, the government aims to ensure no recurrence of such tragedies.

The Chief Minister, while expressing deep sorrow and regret, assured devotees that strict action will be taken against those responsible, and that such negligence will not be tolerated in the future.

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