The historic Bali Yatra festival wrapped up its 150th anniversary edition amid pandemonium on Thursday evening.
A massive surge of enthusiastic fans gathered at the Bali Yatra Ground to catch Bollywood playback singer Shreya Ghoshal’s live performance, leading to a chaotic crowd crush that left at least two people unconscious.
The incident unfolded during the festival’s closing night at the Baishnav Pani Mancha stage, where heavy crowding resulted in intense pushing and shoving near the barricades. Eyewitnesses described a stampede-like situation as attendees jostled for better views of the renowned singer. Two individuals reportedly lost consciousness due to the overwhelming pressure from the crowd and were swiftly transported to a nearby medical facility via ambulance for treatment.
To restore order, additional Commissioner of Police (CP) personnel arrived on the scene. Reports indicate that police resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse the unruly sections of the crowd, with many people fainting on the spot and requiring immediate hospital attention. No serious injuries or fatalities have been confirmed so far, but the event highlighted potential lapses in crowd management at such large-scale gatherings.
Ghoshal, who had arrived in Bhubaneswar earlier in the day and proceeded directly to Cuttack for the concert, was set to deliver a mesmerising set as the festival’s grand finale.
The Bali Yatra, which ran from November 5 to 13 this year, featured cultural programs, trade stalls, and celebrity appearances, drawing millions of visitors to commemorate the state’s seafaring past through the symbolic “Boita Bandana” ritual.
Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the matter, but the episode has sparked discussions on improving safety protocols for future events. As Odisha’s cultural calendar continues to attract global stars, ensuring attendee safety remains paramount.
Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
