In the wake of the tragic stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep sorrow and pledged full support for relief and medical assistance to the affected families.
At least three devotees, including two women, lost their lives and over 50 others sustained injuries in the early morning incident, which occurred amid a massive gathering of pilgrims. Six of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Kharge described the incident as “deeply painful” and condemned the “negligence and mismanagement” that led to the tragedy. “The Congress Party stands in solidarity with the devotees and commits to supporting all efforts to provide relief, medical assistance, and aid to the affected families,” he said.
Kharge also called for a thorough investigation into the security lapses and demanded accountability from those responsible. “Ensuring public safety and effective crowd management is paramount, especially during pre-planned festivities,” he added.
The Odisha government has initiated an inquiry into the incident. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered condolences and assured stringent action against those found guilty. Additional police forces have been deployed to manage the crowd, and the state’s Director General of Police visited the site to assess the situation.
The stampede occurred around 4 a.m. as the chariot of Lord Jagannath reached the Gundicha Temple. The incident has cast a shadow over the otherwise vibrant Rath Yatra celebrations, which draw lakhs of devotees from across the country each year.
