By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 27, 2025: Eight people are reportedly in critical condition and several others have been hospitalised following the stampede-like situation that happened during the ceremonial pulling of Lord Balabhadra’s chariot. More than 500 devotees were injured after massive crowds surged forward to pull the chariot of Lord Balabhadra. The incident occurred during the ceremonial pulling of the Taladhwaja chariot, one of the three grand chariots drawn as part of the centuries-old tradition.

The festival, which draws lakhs of devotees to the coastal pilgrim town, marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 2.5 kilometers away. The deities reside at the Gundicha Temple for a week before returning in a similar procession.

As eager devotees rushed to grab the sacred ropes of the Taladhwaja chariot, overcrowding led to a chaotic stampede-like situation, resulting in injuries to hundreds. While most suffered minor injuries, several were hospitalized and at least eight are reported to be in critical condition.

To manage the immense crowd and ensure security, nearly 10,000 personnel were deployed across the city, including eight companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

The pulling of the chariots began in the afternoon after Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb, performed the ceremonial Chhera Pahanra or the sweeping of all three chariots with a golden broom, symbolising humility and service. The chariot of Lord Balabhadra was the first to roll at 4.08 pm, followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan and nally Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh. Wooden horses of various colours were mounted on each chariot before devotees took hold of the ropes and began the 2.6-kilometre journey towards the Shree Gundicha Temple.

Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and several other dignitaries joined thousands of devotees in pulling the sacred chariots, amidst chants of “Jai Jagannath” and “Hari Bol”, the rhythmic beating of cymbals, and melodic sounds of conches and trumpets. The scene was enriched by performances from Odissi dancers, folk artists, and musicians from different parts of the state, offering their devotion through art.

To maintain order during the Rath Yatra in Puri and to control the crowd, Odisha Police for the first time utilised drones and other technology for monitoring.