The Odisha government on Thursday said the Puri Rath Yatra 2026 was conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner despite persistent rainfall and a massive influx of devotees.
In an official press release, the state government stated that there was no stampede or systemic breakdown of crowd management during the world-famous chariot festival.
According to the government, an estimated 8 to 9 lakh devotees from Odisha, other parts of India and abroad participated in the annual festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshana.
Sacred Rituals Completed Amid Heavy Rain
Despite adverse weather conditions throughout the day, all major rituals associated with the Rath Yatra, including the ceremonial pulling of the three chariots, were carried out smoothly, the government said.
Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya also visited the chariots and offered prayers during the festival.
Extensive Arrangements for Devotees
The state government said elaborate preparations had been made in advance to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
Multiple departments, including the Odisha Police, Health Department, Fire Services, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Transport, Municipal Administration, Public Health Engineering and Energy Department, were deployed for crowd management and emergency response.
Officials said arrangements included:
- Round-the-clock monitoring
- Extensive CCTV surveillance
- Public announcement systems
- Traffic regulation
- Medical teams and emergency response units
- Drinking water and sanitation facilities
- Deployment of security personnel across the festival route
Two Devotees Died During the Festival
The government said that due to the exceptionally large gathering and continuous rainfall, several devotees experienced fatigue, dehydration, suffocation and other minor health-related issues.
According to the official statement:
- Seven devotees fell ill during the festival and were immediately shifted to hospitals by emergency teams.
- One male devotee aged above 60 years later died, and authorities said the exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
- In a separate and unrelated incident, another male devotee aged above 35 years suffered a cardiac arrest and died despite receiving immediate medical attention.
- Several other devotees who became unwell due to rain-related illnesses were treated at hospitals and later discharged.
Government Rejects Stampede Claims
The Odisha government clarified that no stampede occurred during the Rath Yatra and said there was no failure in crowd management.
According to the press release, coordinated efforts by the administration, security agencies, servitors and volunteers ensured the smooth movement of devotees and uninterrupted functioning of essential services throughout the festival.
Chief Minister Thanks Devotees and Servitors
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed gratitude to the servitors, officials, volunteers and the lakhs of devotees for their patience, discipline and cooperation during the festival.
He reiterated the state’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure, public services and administrative preparedness so that devotees can participate in the Rath Yatra safely, conveniently and with dignity in the years ahead.
