DC Anu Garg Submits Puri Stampede Probe Report to Odisha CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar, July 31, (OT Webdesk): A tragic stampede during the Puri Rath Yatra on June 29, 2025, at Sharadhabali claimed three lives and injured over 50 devotees.

On Thursday, Development Commissioner Anu Garg submitted a detailed investigation report to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan.

Compiled over a month with statements from 70 individuals, the report consists of two volumes: a comprehensive account and a summarised synopsis.

The inquiry, conducted by a committee led by Anu Garg and including four OAS officers—Manas Ranjan Samal, Binay Kumar Dash, Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, and Pradeep Kumar Sahu—examined six critical areas.

The committee assessed crowd management plans, focusing on real-time monitoring to prevent congestion.

It evaluated police and administrative measures, including deployment, route demarcation, and the use of CCTV and drones, alongside the response timeline to the crowd surge.

Coordination with authorities, particularly the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), was reviewed to ensure ritual schedules and evacuation routes were managed effectively, with provisions like water and shaded areas.

The probe also investigated public communication, scrutinising the use of public address systems and the handling of rumours or misinformation.

Medical and emergency response was analysed, focusing on the availability of first aid, ambulances, and the efficiency of medical evacuations.

Finally, the report addressed accountability and prevention, identifying lapses in protocol, recommending systemic reforms, and proposing guidelines for future events.

The report pinpointed direct and indirect causes of the stampede and proposed urgent institutional reforms and robust preventive strategies.

While its contents remain confidential, Anu Garg emphasised that a thorough report has been submitted, with further details to be disclosed by the government.

The stampede occurred around 4:30 AM during devotees’ darshan of Lord Jagannath, prompting the state government to promise a report within a month—a commitment now fulfilled. Jagannath devotees await the government’s next steps on accountability and preventive measures.