3 dead in stampede during Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri; Locals Blame Poor Management

Puri (Odisha), June 29, 2025 (ANI): At least 3 people died after stampede happened during Rath Yatra in Puri on June 29. The incident took place near Shree Gundicha Temple. “I was there near the temple till 2-3 am last night, but the management was not good. A new way was made for VIPs, and common people were asked to exit from a distance. People started exiting from the entrance itself, which increased the crowd. The traffic system was also not good, as many vehicles with unauthorised passes came near the temple. The administration did not control the crowd properly. The biggest problem was the exit gate. Many people died on the day of the Rath Yatra too, but the government and administration did not disclose it and said that there were no casualties. Today, three people have died - 2 women, one man. The Odisha administration is responsible for this. There was no police, administration there at night...,” said Swadhin Kumar Panda.