Undeterred by Sunday’s tragic stampede that claimed three lives and left dozens injured, thousands of devotees poured into Puri on Monday to seek a glimpse of the holy sibling deities, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, inside the Shree Gundicha Temple.
Crowds surged towards the sanctum where the deities are seated atop the 'Adapa Mandap', with faith overriding fear. The accident site, near the chariots stationed outside the temple, has now been fortified with additional barricades, and movement is being streamlined through segregated queues.
Senior police officials remain on high alert following the incident, which unfolded around 4.20 am on Sunday during the Rath Yatra festivities. The mishap, caused by a sudden crush of pilgrims attempting to approach the temple early in the morning, resulted in the death of two women and one other individual, and left at least 50 injured.
“We are alert... by the grace of the Lord, everything is running smoothly. Devotees are entering the Shree Gundicha Temple without any hassle,” said Additional Director General Soumendra Priyadarshi, who has been appointed to supervise police arrangements during the Rath Yatra.
Also read: Three dead, several injured during Rath Yatra in Puri
The directive to assign Priyadarshi was issued by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the immediate aftermath of the stampede, as the state government moved quickly to reinforce safety protocols.
Officials have stated that the movement of devotees is now under better control, with barricades and one-way queues introduced to avoid another tragedy.
The devout believe that a glimpse of Lord Jagannath seated on the 'Adapa Mandap' absolves one of sins, a belief that continues to draw lakhs to the coastal town during the chariot festival.
The stampede has cast a shadow over the otherwise jubilant Rath Yatra proceedings, but it has also prompted urgent attention to crowd management, especially during the high-pressure hours before dawn when footfall peaks.
Security has been tightened not only in and around the Shree Gundicha Temple but along the entire Bada Danda (Grand Road), which connects the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
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