BJD demands judicial probe after devotee dies at Bahuda Yatra in Puri
Synopsis
A 57-year-old pilgrim from Cuttack died in a stampede-like situation near Devi Subhadra's chariot at Puri's Bahuda Yatra, with 102 more hospitalised and 24 in critical care. The BJD is now demanding a judicial inquiry and compensation — turning a crowd-management failure into a full political reckoning for the BJP-led Odisha government.
Key Takeaways
Abhiram Das , 57 , of Cuttack reportedly died after a stampede-like situation near Darpadalana during the Bahuda Yatra in Puri .
102 devotees were hospitalised at Puri District Headquarters Hospital ; 24 are in critical condition in the Trauma Care Unit .
BJD Vice-President Sanjay Kumar Das Burma alleged persistent administrative failure and negligence in crowd management.
The BJD has demanded immediate compensation for the deceased's family and transfer of critically ill pilgrims to super-speciality hospitals in Bhubaneswar .
The party has also called for a judicial inquiry into all stampede-related deaths and injuries across both the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra .
Upcoming rituals — Suna Besha , Adharapana , and Niladri Bije — remain in focus as the administration faces pressure to tighten safety protocols.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday, 25 July demanded a judicial inquiry into crowd-management failures at the Bahuda Yatra in Puri after a 57-year-old devotee from Cuttack reportedly died following a stampede-like situation near the chariot of Devi Subhadra. The opposition party alleged that the incident was the latest evidence of the Odisha government's persistent failure to safeguard pilgrims during the annual Rath Yatra festivities.
What Happened at Darpadalana
According to the BJD, Abhiram Das, a resident of Cuttack, was caught in a stampede-like crush near Darpadalana — the chariot of Devi Subhadra — close to Bagala Dharamshala during the Bahuda Yatra. He was initially treated at the Bagala First Aid Centre before being shifted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The party also claimed that 102 devotees who fell ill or sustained injuries on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) during the same event were admitted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital. Of those, 24 devotees were stated to be in critical condition and undergoing treatment in the Trauma Care Unit.
BJD's Allegations Against the Administration
BJD Vice-President and former minister Sanjay Kumar Das Burma expressed grief over the death and alleged systemic administrative failure. 'While the wounds of the tragedy that occurred during the Rath Yatra are yet to heal, this fresh incident has once again exposed the administration's inability to ensure the safety of devotees and maintain orderly crowd management,' he said.
Das Burma further alleged that despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's claims of a flawless and well-managed Rath Yatra, repeated tragedies had 'brought embarrassment to the people of Odisha and diminished the sanctity and dignity of the sacred festival.' He argued that the figures — 102 hospitalised, 24 critical — clearly indicated that the administration had drawn no lessons from earlier incidents.
Key Demands by the BJD
The BJD put forward three specific demands: immediate and adequate compensation for the family of the deceased; transfer of critically injured pilgrims from the Trauma Care Unit to super-speciality hospitals in Bhubaneswar without delay; and a court-monitored judicial inquiry into all deaths and injuries caused by stampedes and crowd-management lapses during both the Rath Yatra and the Bahuda Yatra.
'Such an inquiry must fix responsibility for the lapses, identify those accountable, recommend appropriate action against the guilty officials and suggest comprehensive measures to prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents in the future,' the party stated.
What Comes Next
Das Burma urged the state government to acknowledge its shortcomings and ensure that the forthcoming rituals — Suna Besha, Adharapana, and Niladri Bije — are conducted safely and with the dignity befitting the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. The state government is yet to respond publicly to the BJD's demands. Whether the administration orders an inquiry or contests the opposition's account will shape the political narrative around one of Odisha's most sacred festivals.
Point of View
And the BJD's demand for a judicial inquiry is a politically potent one precisely because it is hard to refuse without appearing indifferent to loss of life. The BJP government in Odisha had made the smooth conduct of Rath Yatra a point of pride; the numbers — 102 hospitalised, 24 critical, one dead — undercut that narrative sharply. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is the structural problem: Puri's Bada Danda has the same chokepoints every year, and the question is not whether a crush will occur but whether the administration has invested in crowd modelling, real-time monitoring, and surge-response protocols. A judicial inquiry may fix accountability for the past, but it will not by itself make the next Rath Yatra safer.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died at the Bahuda Yatra in Puri and how?
Abhiram Das, a 57-year-old devotee from Cuttack, reportedly died after being caught in a stampede-like situation near Darpadalana — the chariot of Devi Subhadra — close to Bagala Dharamshala during the Bahuda Yatra. He was treated at the Bagala First Aid Centre before being shifted to Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where he was declared dead.
How many devotees were injured at the Bahuda Yatra 2025?
According to the BJD, 102 devotees who fell ill or sustained injuries on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) during the Bahuda Yatra were admitted to Puri District Headquarters Hospital. Of these, 24 were stated to be in critical condition and receiving treatment in the Trauma Care Unit.
What has the BJD demanded from the Odisha government?
The BJD has demanded three things: immediate compensation for the family of the deceased devotee; transfer of critically injured pilgrims to super-speciality hospitals in Bhubaneswar; and a judicial inquiry into all deaths and injuries caused by stampedes during both the Rath Yatra and the Bahuda Yatra, with accountability fixed against responsible officials.
What is the Bahuda Yatra?
The Bahuda Yatra is the return procession of the Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, during which the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are pulled back to the Jagannath Temple along the Bada Danda (Grand Road). It draws lakhs of pilgrims every year and is one of the largest religious gatherings in India.
What rituals are still to come after the Bahuda Yatra?
Following the Bahuda Yatra, three major rituals remain in the festival cycle: Suna Besha, Adharapana, and Niladri Bije. The BJD has urged the Odisha government to ensure these are conducted safely and with proper crowd management in light of the recent tragedies.
