In the aftermath of the tragic stampede at Saradhabali near the Gundicha Temple in Puri, which claimed the lives of three devotees and left over 50 injured, serious questions have emerged regarding the preparedness and accountability of the district administration and police.
As the Rath Yatra festivities continue, the shocking incident has sparked widespread outrage and demands for answers.
While officials have promised an investigation and autopsy reports are awaited, several critical questions remain unanswered:
1. How did the administration fail to anticipate the massive crowd surge after Pahuda?
Despite the long-standing tradition and expected turnout, authorities seemed unprepared for the intensity of the crowd movement once the sanctum reopened at 3:45 AM.
2. Was there no police at the site?
Eyewitnesses have alleged a complete lack of law enforcement presence at the time when the stampede occurred.
3. Why was adequate crowd control not in place during Pahuda reopening?
The period immediately after Pahuda is known to attract heavy footfall. Yet, no preventive barricading or route diversion was reportedly enforced.
4. Who allowed two trucks carrying ‘charamala’ into a heavily crowded space?
According to multiple devotees, the panic began when two trucks attempted to enter the gathering, triggering a crush-like situation.
5. Why wasn’t the area cleared before allowing truck movement?
The absence of crowd clearance or holding measures before truck entry raises questions about the basic planning of movement logistics.
6. Was there enough police force deployed for crowd management?
If yes, why were they not visible or active when the surge occurred? If not, why was the deployment inadequate?
7. Why were devotees allowed to gather in a single congested stretch of Saradhabali?
No visible efforts were allegedly made to disperse or regulate the crowd density, especially in such a sensitive location.
8. Where were the senior administrative officers at the time of the incident?
Their presence might have ensured better coordination and immediate response.
9. Who was in charge of crowd regulation at Saradhabali?
The clear absence of coordination points to a failure in assigning and executing responsibilities.
10. Where was the Puri administration during the incident?
With Rath Yatra underway and Saradhabali being a focal point, the absence of real-time oversight is being widely criticized.
As the state government orders a probe and promises action, the families of the deceased and the injured continue to wait, not just for justice, but for accountability. Whether these questions lead to answers or disappear in bureaucratic files remains to be seen.