The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday, 20 July demanded a judicial inquiry into the deaths of devotees during the Puri Rath Yatra on 16 July, holding the BJP-led Odisha government entirely responsible for the tragedy. The party alleged that the state administration had concealed the true death toll and suppressed facts about what transpired during the festival.

Key Allegations at the Press Conference

Addressing a press conference at the BJD headquarters in Bhubaneswar, State BJD Vice President and former Minister Sanjay Kumar Das Burma and party Media Coordinator and Spokesperson Dr Lenin Mohanty alleged that the state government had failed to manage the world-famous festival properly.

Das Burma claimed that four critically injured persons were admitted to Puri Hospital following the incident, of whom three later died. He further alleged that while the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) had stated that more than 350 people were injured, the state government subsequently claimed only two deaths and remained silent about an alleged third fatality.

Contradiction Over Cause of Deaths

Das Burma alleged that the Health Minister had publicly claimed the devotees did not die in a stampede — attributing one death to a heart attack and another to suffocation. However, the BJD leader alleged that post-mortem reports indicated the deaths were caused by a stampede, directly contradicting the minister's statements.

This comes amid broader concerns about crowd management at one of India's largest religious gatherings, which draws millions of devotees annually. Notably, this is not the first time Rath Yatra crowd management has come under scrutiny — the BJD also demanded the release of reports from previous inquiries, including those related to earlier stampede deaths and the incident in which Lord Balabhadra reportedly slipped from the Charamal during the Pahandi procession.

Demands: Resignations and Transparency

The BJD formally demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and called on the state government to make the inquiry report public. The party additionally demanded the resignation of Health Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan from the State Council of Ministers.

The opposition also questioned why the chariots were pulled after sunset, alleging that no established religious tradition permits such a practice, and asked the government to explain why rituals and customs were not followed.

BJP Government's Pre-Festival Claims Under Fire

Das Burma alleged that the BJP-led 'double-engine government' had held multiple meetings before the Rath Yatra, publicly claiming to ensure smooth management of the festival. 'Although the double-engine Government held repeated meetings claiming to ensure smooth management of the Rath Yatra, its complete failure has brought disrepute to Odisha,' Das Burma alleged, adding that the failure had left devotees of Lord Jagannath across the world shocked and saddened.

The Odisha government is yet to formally respond to the BJD's demands for a judicial probe. With opposition pressure mounting and questions over the official death count unresolved, the political fallout from the Puri Rath Yatra tragedy is likely to intensify in the days ahead.