Sun Jun 29 03:47:50 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The article reports on a tragic stampede that occurred at the Shree Jagannath temple chariot festival (“Rathyatra”) in Puri, Odisha, on June 29, 2025. Three devotees, including two women, died and several others were injured as a large crowd rushed to see the deities on their chariots. Authorities are investigating the incident and have identified the deceased.
**News Article:**
**Three Dead, Several Injured in Puri Temple Stampede**
**BHUBANESWAR, INDIA – June 29, 2025 -** A stampede at the Shree Jagannath temple chariot festival in Puri, Odisha, has claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 29th, as a large crowd of worshippers gathered around the chariots to view the deities of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhdra.
According to Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, the stampede erupted around 4 a.m. when one devotee fell, triggering a chain reaction. “So far we have received information about three deaths and condition of six injured persons are stated to be stable,” Swain stated.
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.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the stampede. The festival, known as “Rathyatra,” attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees annually.
First Piper 