Opp demand judicial inquiry into Puri mishap

Bhubaneswar: Demanding a judicial inquiry into the mishap during Rath Yatra in Puri in which two women were killed and more than 15 injured, Opposition parties today put the government in the firing line.

Opposition leader Narsingh Mishra said, “Proper steps were not taken for the car fest. Therefore, the chief minister has no moral rights to be in power.”

Further, Mishra stated the chief minister should first order for judicial inquiry by a sitting judge and seek an apology from the people.

Echoing similar views, senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari said a judicial inquiry should be done into the whole episode. Persons due to whose negligence there was a loss of two lives should be punished, he added.

Countering the allegations, BJD spokesperson Amar Satapathy said the government immediately lent its helping hand to the affected people and declared that it will bear medical expenses of the injured.

Notably, minor stampedes occurred near Marichikota Chhak and Market Chhak in Puri yesterday in which two were killed and more than 15 injured during Rath Yatra.