Following the tragic stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri that claimed three lives, the Odisha government has taken swift administrative action and announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia for each victim&rsquo;s family.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, after a high-level meeting, announced that Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vinit Agrawal have been transferred. In their place, Chanchal Rana (Khordha Collector) and Pinak Mishra (DIGP STF) have been appointed as the new Collector and SP of Puri.
Additionally, DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhee have been suspended for dereliction of duty.
The stampede occurred early Saturday morning, between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. at Saradhabali near Gundicha Temple, during the peak of Rath Yatra festivities. The victims were identified as Pravati Das, Premkant Mohanty, and Basanti Sahoo.
CM Majhi has ordered an administrative inquiry under Development Commissioner Anu Garg and personally apologised to Lord Jagannath&rsquo;s devotees on social media, saying:
&ldquo;Personally, my government and I seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees.&rdquo;
He also assured exemplary action against those responsible for the tragedy:
&ldquo;The Rath Yatra is a matter of Odia pride. Any negligence, even minor, will not be tolerated.&rdquo;
In another key decision, Arvind Agrawal, Secretary of Higher Education, has been appointed to oversee the remaining Rath Yatra arrangements.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

Rath Yatra Tragedy: Odisha Suspends Officials, Announces Rs 25 Lakh Relief

Three dead in Puri stampede; Puri Collector and SP removed, DCP and Commandant suspended over lapses

Rath Yatra Tragedy: Odisha Suspends Officials, Announces Rs 25 Lakh Relief

Three dead in Puri stampede; Puri Collector and SP removed, DCP and Commandant suspended over lapses

June 29, 2025 | 20:55 IST