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India
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Jun 30, 2025
Puri stampede: Eyewitness accounts of Rath Yatra tragedy
A tragic stampede at the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, on Sunday morning left three people dead and more than 50 injured.
Panic broke out near Gundicha Temple when two trucks carrying festival wood suddenly arrived, causing a rush among about 1,500 devotees gathered for darshan.
TL;DR
Calls for better crowd management
Witnesses said there weren't enough police around—some even left their posts during the chaos.
In response, Odisha's Chief Minister suspended top police officials and ordered a probe to wrap up within 30 days.
Many injured were discharged by evening, but the incident has sparked urgent calls for better crowd management at big public events like this one.