Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik blamed the state government for “blatant callousness” after a tragic stampede at Puri during Rath Yatra killed three devotees. He urged immediate reforms for upcoming rituals and condemned administrative failure, calling excuses like “Mahaprabhu’s wish” a shocking cover-up of incompetence.
In the wake of a tragic stampede during the annual Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri, former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, has squarely blamed the state government for what he described as “blatant callousness” in handling the massive crowd. The incident, which occurred between 4 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. at Saradhabali, led to the death of three devotees and left several others injured.
In a strongly worded post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Patnaik refrained from directly accusing the administration of criminal negligence but said that the state’s apathy undeniably contributed to the tragedy. “While I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy,” he wrote.
He urged the government to immediately implement corrective measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming rituals associated with the Rath Yatra, including the Adapa Bije, Bahuda, and Suna Besha. These are major events that attract lakhs of devotees from across the country.
Patnaik also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the three victims—identified as Pravati Das, Premkant Mohanty, and Basanti Sahoo—and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. “Today’s stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the #RathYatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees,” he said.
According to eyewitness accounts cited by Patnaik, the initial response to the stampede came not from government officials, but from the relatives and fellow devotees of the victims. He alleged that no government machinery was available on the ground to handle the swelling crowd, underscoring what he called a “shocking lapse in duty.”
In another pointed criticism, Patnaik lambasted the state administration for attributing delays in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day to “Mahaprabhu’s wish.” He termed this explanation a “shocking excuse” that served only to mask the administration’s failures. “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 added.
On the administrative side, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain explained that the tragedy occurred following the ceremonial closure of Darshan (Pahuda). When the Darshan of the deities began in the early morning hours, a large crowd rushed toward the cordoned area, leading to chaos.
Swain confirmed that around nine people initially complained of breathlessness. They were quickly evacuated and taken to the hospital, where three were declared dead. Six others remain hospitalized, and their condition is being closely monitored. Post-mortem procedures for the deceased are currently underway.
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The stampede has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the preparedness and efficiency of the state administration in handling large-scale religious events. With major rituals like Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha still to come, there is growing pressure on the government to restore public confidence through visible corrective measures.
As the political blame game escalates, devotees and citizens alike are demanding answers and accountability. The tragedy at Puri serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of administrative lapses during large public gatherings, particularly those of immense religious significance.
