Sacred Celebration Ends in Chaos as Stampede Kills Worshippers

What began as a joyous religious celebration spiraled into tragedy on Sunday when a stampede at a major Hindu festival in eastern India claimed the lives of three people and left six others injured.

The horrifying incident occurred in Puri, a coastal city in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, during the annual Rath Yatra, or Chariot Festival, one of Hinduism’s most revered and widely attended events.

Thousands of worshippers had gathered before dawn to witness the procession of Lord Jagannath’s colossal chariots, which are pulled through the streets in a vibrant public spectacle.

However, as the crowd grew rapidly in the early hours, panic set in, leading to a chaotic human crush.

“Three people have died and six sustained injuries; none of them are serious and all are out of danger,” said Y.B. Khurania, the Director General of Police for Odisha.

Local authorities reported that existing safety measures were overwhelmed as early arrivals swarmed into the ceremonial zone.

A senior official, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions, described the situation as “unmanageable” and said security barriers failed to contain the crowd pressure.

Such tragedies are not new to India. In January, 39 pilgrims were killed during a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India, underscoring ongoing concerns over insufficient crowd management during religious events.

The Odisha government has since ordered an urgent probe into Sunday’s incident, promising to review and strengthen safety arrangements for all upcoming public events.

Critics say authorities often underestimate the scale of attendance and lack advanced planning strategies to handle unpredictable crowd behaviors.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, but officials confirmed that all injured persons are stable and receiving treatment.

As families mourn their loved ones, calls are growing for a nationwide policy on crowd safety at religious gatherings to prevent such heart-wrenching losses in the future.

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