Two Die as Lakhs Attend Jagannath Yatra in Puri
Two individuals died and several others were injured due to a crowd surge on Badadanda, the wide road in front of the 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, during the annual Rath Yatra on July 16, 2026.
The stampede-like situation occurred near Marichikote Chowk when devotees were pushed aside to clear a path for an ambulance moving through the crowd. This led to a chaotic scene where several people fell over one another, resulting in injuries. The injured were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital in Puri, with many suffering fractures in their arms and legs.
Two individuals were declared dead at the hospital, one of whom was identified as Anil Dash, aged 35. The identity of the other deceased is still being confirmed.
Approximately a hundred devotees were admitted for treatment, with hospital sources reporting that while most were stable, the condition of two individuals remained critical.
The Special Rescue Unit (SRU) of the Odisha Fire & Emergency Services has rescued 33 devotees from heavy crowd congestion since the morning. The rescued individuals were provided with first aid and oxygen support before being transferred to nearby hospitals.
The Chief Minister’s Office stated, “The overall conduct of the festival remained peaceful, orderly, and well managed. There was no incident of stampede or any systemic breakdown of crowd management,” while confirming the two fatalities.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his sorrow, stating, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the stampede at Badadanda during Rath Yatra. I pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls and for the swift recovery of the injured.”
Patnaik also assured that all Biju Janata Dal workers would provide full support to those affected and urged the state government to enhance crowd management for the safety and convenience of devotees.
Earlier that day, lakhs of devotees braved heavy rain to attend the 3 km-long Badadanda, which connects the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. The idols of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra were ceremonially brought out of the sanctum by sevayats (traditional priests) following elaborate rituals. Devotees chanted “Haribol” and blew conch shells as the deities were revealed.
In the afternoon, the three chariots—Taladhwaj (Lord Balabhadra), Nandighosh (Lord Jagannath), and Darpadalan (Devi Subhadra)—began their procession amid devotional fervor, as devotees jostled for better views of the deities.
Puri’s titular king, Divyasingha Deb, performed the traditional ‘Chhera Pahanra’ ritual, sweeping the chariots as the foremost servitor, while Puri Shankaracharya Jagadguru Nischalananda Saraswati offered prayers to the deities on the chariots.
However, the chariots were halted midway and could not reach the Gundicha Temple. The pulling of the chariots is scheduled to resume on July 17, 2026.
