Bahuda Yatra Tragedy: Naveen Patnaik Slams Odisha Govt Over Safety Lapses
Puri witnessed tragedy during the Bahuda Yatra when a devotee, Abhiram Das from Cuttack, collapsed while pulling Devi Subhadra’s chariot and later died at the hospital.
Expressing grief, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly criticised the Odisha government for repeated safety failures during the annual Rath Yatra.
Patnaik alleged that despite the festival’s scale and importance, the administration has failed to ensure proper crowd management and safety arrangements.
He accused the government of relying on “stopgap policies” instead of long‑term planning, leading to recurring accidents, stampedes, and deaths.
Calling for immediate corrective measures, Patnaik urged authorities to strengthen safety protocols ahead of upcoming rituals such as Suna Besha and Niladri Bije, stressing that devotees’ lives must be safeguarded during Odisha’s most significant religious festival.
