TV
In the wake of recent tragic stampede incident in Puri, senior servitor and former member of the temple management committee, Ramachandra Dasmahapatra, has raised serious concerns regarding the handling of the 'Pahuda' (ritual closing of the temple gates).
Dasmahapatra questioned the lack of prior communication to devotees about the 'Pahuda' ritual, stating that there was supposed to be an advance announcement to devotees, but it was not done.
He further said that even if Pahuda was conducted, the temple could have been reopened within an hour.
Highlighting gaps in administration, he said, “Such decisions could have been taken by the temple management committee, but that did not happen.”
The senior servitor also criticized the absence of staff at the information center, saying, “There was no one at the information center to inform the devotees, leaving them unaware of what was happening.”
Must Read: Puri stampede: Aravind Agrawal appointed supervision in-charge of Rath Yatra
These statements have sparked fresh debate over the transparency and communication protocols in the temple’s operational decisions.
Notably, at least three persons were killed and around 50 others were injured in the stampede near the Gundicha Temple on Sunday morning.
