Sun Jun 29 03:47:50 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A stampede occurred in Puri, Odisha, during the Shree Jagannath temple chariot festival (Rathyatra) on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at approximately 4:00 AM. Three devotees, including two women, died and several others were injured as devotees rushed to see the deities on the chariots. Authorities are investigating the incident and the injured are reported to be in stable condition.

**News Article:**

**Three Dead, Several Injured in Stampede at Puri Rathyatra Festival**

**BHUBANESWAR, Odisha – June 29, 2025** – Tragedy struck the Shree Jagannath temple chariot festival (Rathyatra) in Puri early Sunday morning as a stampede claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured. The incident occurred around 4:00 AM as large crowds gathered to witness the Darshan of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhdra on their respective chariots.

According to local authorities, the stampede was triggered when a devotee fell, causing a ripple effect within the densely packed crowd. “So far we have received information about three deaths and condition of six injured persons are stated to be stable,” said Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain.

The deceased have been identified as Basanti Sahu from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty and Pravati Das from Balipatna. Their bodies have been sent for postmortem examination.

An investigation into the cause of the stampede is currently underway. The annual Rathyatra festival draws massive crowds from across India and the world, making crowd control a significant challenge for authorities.

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