New Delhi, July 16,2026

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri, one of India's largest religious gatherings, was overshadowed by a tragic crowd surge that led to a stampede-like situation on Thursday. According to local media reports, at least one person is feared dead while around 200 devotees were reportedly injured during the incident on Bada Danda, the Grand Road where lakhs of pilgrims had gathered to witness the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra being pulled through the city.

Visuals from the spot showed security personnel and emergency teams rescuing injured and unwell devotees from the densely packed crowd and taking them for medical treatment. Officials were also seen making efforts to disperse the gathering and reduce congestion to prevent the situation from worsening.

Reacting to the incident, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of lives among devotees in the stampede at Badadanda during Rath Yatra. I pray for the eternal peace of the souls of the devotees who have lost their lives and for the swift recovery of the more than a hundred injured devotees. In this hour of grief, all workers of the Biju Janata Dal will extend their full cooperation to provide assistance to everyone. I hope that the state government will ensure the convenience and safety of the devotees by properly managing the crowds."

The Jagannath Rath Yatra attracts lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad every year, making it one of the country's most significant religious events. The incident has once again underscored the importance of effective crowd management and robust safety arrangements to ensure that such large-scale gatherings remain safe for all participants.