A tragic stampede during the world-famous Puri Rath Yatra on June 29, 2025, at Sharadhabali resulted in the loss of three lives and injuries to over 50 devotees.
On Thursday, Development Commissioner Anu Garg submitted a detailed investigation report to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan.
The report, compiled after a month-long inquiry, includes two volumes: one with a comprehensive account of the incident and another summarising its findings. The investigation involved field-level inquiries in Puri and Bhubaneswar, with 70 statements recorded.
The probe was conducted by a committee led by Anu Garg, comprising four OAS officers: Manas Ranjan Samal, Binay Kumar Dash, Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, and Pradeep Kumar Sahu. A final meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday at Lok Seva Bhawan to finalise the report.
While the report outlines the incident’s details and identifies those responsible, its contents remain confidential, with only the government authorised to disclose further details. DC Garg stated that a thorough report has been provided, but specifics would be revealed by the government.
The stampede occurred around 4:30 AM during the devotees’ darshan of the Holy Trinity atop the Chariots, prompting swift action from the state government, which promised a report within a month.
With the report now submitted, devotees and Jagannath culture enthusiasts await the government’s next steps regarding accountability and preventive measures.
