- Another devotee dies during BahudaYatra
- The Government is trying to escape responsibility by invoking the name of Lord Jagannath
- While the post-mortem report confirms that devotees died in the stampede, it is condemnable that the Chief Minister and Health Minister claimed that the deaths were due to suffocation
- A judicial inquiry should be conducted into all the incidents
Bhubaneswar, 25/07/2026:The State Government has completely failed in managing the world-famous RathYatra. While three devotees lost their lives in a stampede during this year’s RathYatra, another devotee died in a stampede during BahudaYatra. The BijuJanata Dal (BJD) has strongly criticized the double-engine government over these incidents.
At a press conference held today at SankhaBhawan, BJD Vice-President and former Minister Shri Sanjay Das Burma, former MLA and Puri District President Shri UmakantaSamantaray, and former Minister and MLA Shri TusharkantiBehera strongly criticized the BJP Government over the deaths of devotees in stampede incidents during RathYatra.
Shri Das Burma stated that repeated mismanagement during RathYatra has deeply hurt the sentiments of countless devotees of Lord Jagannath. On July 16, during Lord Jagannath’sRathYatra, three devotees lost their lives in a stampede and more than 350 people were injured. Again, during BahudaYatra, one devotee lost his life in a stampede and over 130 people were injured. Despite these incidents, the State Government has refused to admit its mistakes.
While devotees died in a stampede, the Chief Minister and the Health Minister have allegedly misled the people of the State by claiming that the deaths were caused by suffocation. Though the Government refused to acknowledge that the deaths during RathYatra were due to a stampede, the post-mortem report has exposed the claims made by the Chief Minister and the Health Minister.
The State Government has failed to learn any lessons from past mistakes in RathYatra management. Due to the Government’s negligence, another stampede occurred during BahudaYatra, resulting in the death of a devotee. Sanitation arrangements on the Grand Road (BadaDanda) were inadequate. Discarded leaf plates were lying near BagalaDharmashala. When Devi Subhadra’s chariot arrived, people slipped on the discarded plates and fell, triggering the stampede.
The double-engine Government has completely failed in conducting an error-free RathYatra. The lack of commitment on the part of the State Government, district administration, and temple administration has led to repeated mishaps during the RathYatra. From RathYatra to BahudaYatra, disruptions have been witnessed at every stage, deeply hurting the sentiments of countless Jagannath devotees.
How could the State Government issue statements regarding the cause of death even before the post-mortem report was available? Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Shri Naveen Patnaik has expressed concern over these incidents. A judicial inquiry should be conducted into all incidents from RathYatra to BahudaYatra. The Health Minister should immediately resign for allegedly misleading the people regarding the cause of death.
Shri UmakantaSamantaray stated that the State Government has proved incapable of managing the world-famous RathYatra. More servitors were allowed to remain near the deities during RathYatra than what had been decided earlier. Mishaps began from the very commencement of the RathYatra. During the PahandiBije ritual of the deities, the traditional Tahia was missing. Subsequently, a stampede took place, resulting in the loss of devotees’ lives. During BahudaYatra too, another stampede claimed the life of a devotee.
Due to the irresponsibility of the BJP Government, Odisha is being criticized across the world. Because of the Government’s failure in managing RathYatra, devotees are returning home in coffins after coming to participate in the sacred festival. During SunaBesha, unprecedented traffic congestion was witnessed on all roads connecting Puri due to unmanageable crowds. The people have become completely frustrated because of the Government’s lapses.
During the tenure of former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, RathYatra was conducted smoothly and efficiently. The Health Minister is falsely denying that devotees died in the stampede. A judicial inquiry should be conducted into all the incidents, and on moral grounds, the Health Minister should immediately resign.
Shri TusharkantiBehera stated that repeated mishaps are occurring during the world-famous RathYatra of Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. Due to the faulty management of the double-engine Government, devotees are being pushed towards death.
During the 2024 RathYatra, Lord Balabhadra fell from the Charamala during the Pahandi ritual. Although the State Government ordered an inquiry into the incident, the report has never been made public. Similarly, when the son of the former Governor allegedly slapped an ASO posted at Raj Bhavan in Puri, an inquiry was conducted, but the report was never released.
Likewise, during the 2025 RathYatra, devotees died in a stampede at Saradhabali, yet the Government did not make the inquiry report public. This year, three devotees died during RathYatra and one during BahudaYatra. However, the State Government is trying to evade its constitutional and moral responsibility.
Even when questions are raised in the Assembly, Ministers merely respond that the inquiry is still ongoing. Although more than two years have passed since the BJP Government assumed office, the inquiry reports have not been made public. The people of Odisha will never forgive the gross negligence that has endangered the safety of devotees during Lord Jagannath’sRathYatra.Therefore, a judicial inquiry should be conducted into all the incidents and the inquiry reports should be made public.
