Two Devotees Die During Puri Rath Yatra Crowd Surge

The 2026 Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri drew an estimated 8 to 12 lakh devotees, including international visitors from the United States, Russia, and South Korea. Despite continuous rain and adverse weather, the festival concluded with the completion of all rituals and the pulling of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra toward the Shree Gundicha temple.

During the festivities, a crowd surge resulted in the deaths of two devotees. A 60-year-old man died after experiencing breathing difficulties and suffocation, while a 35-year-old man died following a suspected cardiac arrest. Reports indicated that over 120 people were hospitalized due to the surge, though state health officials later noted a smaller number of six to seven hospitalized devotees who mostly recovered.

Mohan Charan Majhi, the Chief Minister of Odisha, expressed grief over the casualties and directed officials to provide medical care and financial assistance to the victims' families. The Government of Odisha repeatedly denied that a stampede occurred or that there were failures in crowd management, asserting that the situation remained normal. These claims were criticized by opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress.

National leaders offered greetings for the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan characterized the festival as a celebration of India's spiritual and cultural heritage.