Odisha government's big action in Puri stampede case; two officers suspended, DM-SP transferred

After the stampede incident occurred during Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra at Puri, the state government of Odisha has taken stern action and suspended two officers. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took stern action against those officers who were negligent during this accident and transferred the District Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Puri from their posts with immediate effect.

In a statement issued by the CMO, it has been said that Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vineet Agarwal have been transferred. At the same time, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended for negligence in duty. Chanchal Rana has been appointed as the new District Collector of Puri, while Pinak Mishra has been given the charge of the new SP. CM Majhi also ordered an administrative inquiry into the matter under the supervision of the Development Commissioner.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the families of each deceased devotee. The CM has ordered a detailed administrative inquiry under the supervision of the Development Commissioner. Along with this, the Chief Minister apologized to all the devotees for this incident. He said that my government and I apologize to all the devotees of Mahaprabhu Jagannath. We have deep condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives in this accident. We pray that God gives them the strength to bear this sorrow.

At least three persons died and about 50 others were injured in a stampede near Sri Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, on Sunday. The incident occurred around 4 am when hundreds of devotees had gathered near the temple to watch the Rath Yatra festival.

The chaos broke out after two trucks carrying material for the rituals entered the crowded place near the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his brother Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, officials said. The injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, and the condition of six persons was critical, they said. The deceased were identified as Basanti Sahu of Bolagarh and Premkant Mohanty, and Pravati Das of Balipatna. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and the matter is being investigated.