The stampede in Puri during the ongoing Rath Yatra has exposed the “glaring incompetence” of the state government in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees, former chief minister Naveen Patnaik alleged on Sunday.
Patnaik, who is recuperating at a Mumbai hospital after spinal surgery, put out a long post on X in which he extended his condolences to the families of three devotees who lost their lives in the stampede.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who have lost their lives in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali, #Puri and I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha for the swift recovery of the devotees injured in this devastating incident.
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 29, 2025
Today’s stampede,…
“Today’s stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the Rath Yatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees,” said the BJD chief, who is also the leader of the opposition in the state assembly.
Quoting eyewitnesses, Patnaik alleged that no government machinery was present to manage the surging crowds, which highlighted a shocking lapse in duty.
“The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day was conveniently attributed to ‘Mahaprabhu’s wish’, a shocking excuse that masks the administration’s complete abdication of responsibility,” he said, referring to the Friday’s incident where the three chariots had to be stopped on Grand Road as Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot got stuck while negotiating a turn, preventing the other two from advancing.
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“While I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy,” he said.
Patnaik, a five-term chief minister, also urged the government to implement urgent corrective measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the key Rath Yatra rituals.
At least three people died and over fifty others were injured in the stampede that took place at 4 am on Sunday near the Shree Gundicha temple, about three kilometres from Jagannath temple.
An estimated one million devotees participated in the annual Rath Yatra on Friday and around 5 lakh people were in the holy town on Saturday, PTI reported quoting officials.
