Stampede-like situation in Puri, devotees break security barricades in front of Jagannath Temple

A chaotic scene unfolded at Bada Danda after hundreds of devotees on Wednesday broke the security barricades in front of the Shree Jagannath Temple in the holy city of Puri, leading to a stampede-like situation.

After waiting in queue for hours to seek the blessings of the Holy Trinity, devotees allegedly broke the barricades, reports said. However, there has been no report of any casualty in the incident. There was a long queue since last night stretching from the temple to the Market Square, which is nearly half a kilometer away.

Tired of long waiting hours, the devotees allegedly broke the security cordon, leading to many falling down and getting trampled. However, they suffered minor injuries and were rescued with the help of other devotees.

Yesterday, at least 10 devotees complained of uneasiness and fell ill following a stampede-like situation near the temple’s entrance. Large numbers of devotees gathered in the densely packed space, leading to pushing and shoving among the crowd. 

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Worth mentioning, thousands of devotees reach the holy city and gather at the Shree Jagannath Temple to celebrate the New Year every year, creating substantial congestion as they seek to offer their prayers and get blessings of the Holy Trinity.

Despite the Puri administration's substantial preparations to safely manage the masses, sporadic incidents of disorder were reported this year as the enthusiasm peaked among visitors. Local authorities made visible efforts to ramp up security and logistical arrangements for the New Year festivities, though the turnout continued to test the systems in place.

Nevertheless, every year the Shree Jagannath Temple remains a beacon for those seeking an auspicious start to their new year, continuing to attract immense numbers of worshippers.