TV
Nearly a month after the tragic stampede during Rath Yatra at Puri’s Saradhabali that had claimed three lives, Development Commissioner Anu Garg on Thursday submitted a detailed report to Odisha Chief Minister.
Despite 67 witness statements recorded, the report’s conclusions remain undisclosed.
Also Read: Puri Rath Yatra stampede not due to delay in ‘Pahuda’ ritual, says Law Minister
According to sources, in a significant development following the stampede incident in Puri, Odisha’s Development Commissioner Garg has formally submitted her inquiry report to the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The tragic event on June 29 had resulted in the death of three devotees due to a crowd surge during the ritual at Saradhabali.
The investigation, which spanned over a month, involved the recording of statements from 67 individuals, including eyewitnesses and officials present during the incident. The purpose of the probe was to establish the cause of the stampede and recommend measures to prevent such mishaps in the future.
However, the contents and final conclusions of the report have not yet been made public. Public interest in the findings remains high, especially among the families of the deceased and civil society groups demanding accountability and improved crowd management at religious events.
Officials have indicated that appropriate action will follow after reviewing the probe report in detail.
No comments were received from the Development Commissioner in this regard.
Worth mentioning, deaths and injuries of devotees during the 9-day annual sojourn (Rath Yatra) in Puri pilgrimage town were not caused by any delay in ‘Pahuda’ ritual of the sibling deities, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had said on June 30.
The Minister had dismissed speculation of ritual conflict and assured a timely probe into the fatal mishap with clear accountability.
“There was no need to disturb Mahaprabhu Jagannath and unnecessarily keep Him restless (Anidra) the whole night,” the Law Minister had stated, dismissing concerns over alleged ritual confusion or mismanagement.
