Tragic stampede at Rath Yatra in Puri

India Jun 29, 2025

A tragic stampede during the crowded Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, on Sunday morning led to three deaths and left about 50 people injured.
The chaos broke out when two trucks entered a packed area near the famous chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, with over 10 lakh devotees present at the scene.

Victims identified; probe underway

The victims have been identified as Basanti Sahu, Premakant Mohanty, and Pravati Das. Six people are still critical.
Officials are investigating what went wrong, while the state government says all necessary steps are being taken.
The Rath Yatra is a major annual ritual for many across India—the return journey ('Bahuda Yatra') is set for July 5.