BJD Seeks Judicial Probe into Puri Rath Yatra Deaths, Targets Odisha Government Over Crowd Management

Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday called for a judicial inquiry into the deaths of devotees during the Rath Yatra in Puri, alleging that the BJP-led Odisha Government failed to ensure proper crowd management during the annual festival.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar, BJD State Vice President and former Minister Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, along with party Media Coordinator and Spokesperson Dr. Lenin Mohanty, accused the government of administrative lapses and demanded accountability for the tragic incident.

Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased, Das Burma said the loss of lives during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings had deeply saddened devotees of Lord Jagannath across the globe. He alleged that the state government was attempting to withhold crucial details about the incident instead of presenting a transparent account.

Questioning the official version, Das Burma referred to the Health Minister’s statement that the deaths were not caused by a stampede, but were attributed to a heart attack and suffocation. He claimed that the government has yet to clarify the exact sequence of events or disclose the complete number of casualties and injuries.

The senior BJD leader further alleged that four critically injured devotees were admitted to Puri District Headquarters Hospital after the incident, and that three of them later succumbed to their injuries. He also pointed to earlier statements by the Chief District Medical Officer indicating that more than 350 people had sustained injuries, alleging inconsistencies between official figures and the government’s subsequent statements.

According to the BJD, the state administration had held multiple review meetings ahead of the Rath Yatra and assured foolproof arrangements, but failed to prevent the tragedy. The party alleged that instead of accepting responsibility, the government was attempting to cover up its administrative shortcomings.

Das Burma also claimed that post-mortem findings indicated deaths caused by a stampede, contradicting the Health Minister’s public remarks.

The BJD demanded that the state government order a judicial inquiry and make the findings public. The party also sought the resignation of Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, holding them accountable for the alleged lapses.

Additionally, the opposition urged the government to release reports of previous inquiries related to Rath Yatra incidents, including past stampede cases and the incident in which Lord Balabhadra slipped from the Charamal during the Pahandi procession.

The party further questioned the decision to continue pulling the chariots after sunset, claiming that such a practice does not align with established temple traditions. It asked the government to explain why customary rituals and schedules were allegedly not followed.

Maintaining that repeated assurances by the “double-engine government” failed to translate into effective management, the BJD alleged that the incident had tarnished Odisha’s image and left Jagannath devotees across the world shocked and distressed.