Bahuda Yatra 2025: Devotee dies of suffocation in Puri amid crowd chaos
Synopsis
A third devotee has reportedly died at Puri's chariot festivals in under a month — this time during the Bahuda Yatra return procession on 24 July. With the state yet to officially confirm the death and opposition parties alleging systemic crowd mismanagement, the fatalities are turning one of India's largest religious gatherings into a serious accountability question for the Odisha government.
Key Takeaways
Abhiram Das , 57 , from Kataka district , reportedly died of suffocation near Bagala Dharmashala in Puri during the Bahuda Yatra on 24 July 2025 .
The Odisha state government has not yet officially confirmed the death.
Two devotees — Anil Das and Ashok Subare Raikar — had already died during Rath Yatra on 16 July ; this is the third reported fatality within a month at Puri festivals.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced ₹10 lakh ex gratia each for the Rath Yatra victims on 20 July .
The BJD and Congress have alleged massive crowd mismanagement by the state administration.
A devotee reportedly died due to suffocation during the Bahuda Yatra — the return procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan — in the holy coastal town of Puri, Odisha, on Friday, 24 July. Several other pilgrims were hospitalised following the incident, even as the state government is yet to officially confirm the death.
What Happened Near Bagala Dharmashala
The deceased has been identified as Abhiram Das, 57, a resident of Kataka district. According to sources, Das suddenly fell ill, allegedly due to the overwhelming crowd gathered near Bagala Dharmashala in Puri town during the pulling of Darpadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra, on Friday evening. He was rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
A Pattern of Crowd-Related Deaths This Festival Season
This reported fatality comes less than two weeks after two devotees died during Rath Yatra on 16 July 2025. Officials confirmed at the time that one elderly pilgrim died after suffering suffocation caused by the heavy crowd, while a second succumbed to a cardiac arrest in a separate incident. The state government, while acknowledging both deaths, denied that any stampede had taken place during the 16 July festival. Notably, this is the third reported crowd-related death at Puri's major chariot festivals within a single month.
Government Response and Ex Gratia Announced
On 20 July, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh each for the next of kin of the two Rath Yatra victims — Anil Das of Kataka and Ashok Subare Raikar of Mumbai. No official confirmation or compensation has yet been announced in connection with Friday's reported death during the Bahuda Yatra.
Opposition Alleges Mismanagement
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress (Congress) have levelled allegations of massive crowd mismanagement at the state administration. Critics argue that the repeated incidents point to systemic failures in pilgrim safety planning, particularly given that lakhs of devotees descend on Puri during both the outward and return chariot processions each year.
Scale of the Bahuda Yatra
Lakhs of devotees thronged Puri on Friday to witness the Bahuda Yatra, which marks the deities' return journey from the Gundicha Temple back to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple after their traditional nine-day sojourn. Pilgrims pulled the three massive chariots of the holy siblings along the designated route through the town. The scale and fervour of the gathering make crowd management one of the most critical logistical challenges facing the administration each year.
As authorities face mounting scrutiny, all eyes will be on whether the Odisha government formally confirms Friday's death and announces further safety measures ahead of future religious congregations.
Point of View
While simultaneously denying stampedes occurred, reflects a crisis-communication strategy that prioritises optics over accountability. Ex gratia payments address the symptom, not the cause. Odisha draws lakhs of pilgrims to Puri every year; the infrastructure and crowd-management protocols should reflect that reality, not react to it after fatalities mount.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died during the Bahuda Yatra in Puri on 24 July 2025?
The deceased has been identified as Abhiram Das, 57, from Kataka district, Odisha. He reportedly collapsed due to suffocation caused by the heavy crowd near Bagala Dharmashala during the pulling of Darpadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra, on Friday evening.
Has the Odisha government officially confirmed the Bahuda Yatra death?
As of the latest reports, the Odisha state government has not yet officially confirmed the death of Abhiram Das. The incident follows a pattern seen during Rath Yatra, when the government confirmed two deaths only after opposition pressure.
How many devotees have died at Puri chariot festivals in 2025?
At least two deaths were officially confirmed during Rath Yatra on 16 July 2025, and a third has been reported — though not yet confirmed — during Bahuda Yatra on 24 July. This makes it the third crowd-related fatality at Puri's major chariot festivals within a single month.
What ex gratia did the Odisha government announce for Rath Yatra victims?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced ₹10 lakh each for the families of Anil Das of Kataka and Ashok Subare Raikar of Mumbai, the two devotees who died during Rath Yatra on 16 July 2025. The announcement was made on 20 July.
What is the Bahuda Yatra?
Bahuda Yatra is the return chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan from the Gundicha Temple back to the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, marking the end of the deities' nine-day sojourn. It draws lakhs of pilgrims each year and is one of Odisha's most significant religious events.
