Odisha CM Reacts to Puri Stampede: Apology, Transfers, and Investigation Launched

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of Odisha has responded to the tragic stampede at the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, which resulted in three fatalities and numerous injuries. Majhi offered a public apology and announced immediate actions, including the suspension of Puri Deputy Police Commissioner Bishnu Charan Pati and police Commandant Ajay Padhi, alongside the transfer of Puri Collector Siddharth S Swain and SP Binit Agarwal. The stampede occurred near the Shree Gundicha Temple early Sunday morning, as devotees awaited the unveiling of the deities. Eyewitness accounts point to poor crowd management, exacerbated by a new VIP entrance and the entry of Charamala wood trucks. The Director General of Police is leading an investigation into the incident, and the government has promised strict action against those responsible. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik criticized the government’s crowd management and response to the tragedy.