Puri Rath Yatra 2025: 1 dead in stampede-like incident near Marichikund
Synopsis
Amid lakhs of devotees and heavy rain at Puri's Rath Yatra, a stampede-like crush near Marichikund Square reportedly left one elderly person dead and around 200 pilgrims hospitalised — yet authorities had issued no official confirmation as of Thursday evening, raising questions about crowd management at one of India's largest religious gatherings.
Key Takeaways
One person reportedly died due to suffocation in an alleged stampede-like situation near Marichikund Square during Puri Rath Yatra on 16 July .
No official confirmation of the death or the incident had been issued by authorities as of the time of reporting.
A witness described approximately 40 to 50 people falling on one another; four to five sustained serious injuries.
Around 200 patients were reportedly admitted to hospitals and temporary health facilities in Puri with suffocation and injuries.
The Pahandi Bije ritual began ahead of schedule but was delayed by more than two hours amid the unprecedented crowd and incessant rain.
One person reportedly died due to suffocation in an alleged stampede-like situation near Marichikund Square during the Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha on Thursday, 16 July. However, as of the time of reporting, no official confirmation of the fatality or the stampede-like incident had been issued by authorities.
What Witnesses Described
A devotee who was present near Marichikund Square told reporters that either the rope barricade of the outer cordon gave way, or some pilgrims lost their footing and fell onto the road. According to the witness, roughly 40 to 50 people fell on top of one another, leaving several injured, with four to five appearing to have sustained serious injuries.
The witness added that around 20 people were rescued and transported to hospital by ambulance. It was subsequently heard that an elderly person had succumbed, though this remains unconfirmed by officials.
Scale of Medical Response
Sources claimed that approximately 200 patients had been admitted to hospitals and temporary health facilities in Puri by Thursday, reporting suffocation and various injuries. The surge was attributed to an unprecedented rush of devotees combined with incessant rainfall throughout the day.
The Festival and Its Rituals
Lakhs of devotees gathered in the holy coastal town of Puri to witness the grand annual Rath Yatra. The festival commenced with the Pahandi Bije ritual, in which the divine siblings and other deities were escorted from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to their decorated chariots in a ceremonial procession. Traditional instruments — including the ghanta (gong), kahali (trumpet), and telingi baja — accompanied the procession, alongside priests chanting Vedic hymns and Odissi dance performances.
The deities were welcomed onto their chariots to begin their nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be their birthplace. Notably, while the Pahandi Bije rituals began ahead of schedule, their completion was delayed by more than two hours on Thursday.
What Happens Next
Authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident at the time of publication. Given the scale of the gathering and the reported number of hospital admissions, an official response and crowd-management review are expected. The Rath Yatra procession is set to continue over the coming days as part of the nine-day festival calendar.
Point of View
Yet the combination of an unprecedented turnout and heavy rain appears to have overwhelmed the outer cordon — a crowd-management failure that authorities have not yet acknowledged. India has seen repeated fatalities at major religious events, from the Haridwar Kumbh to the Indore temple tragedy of 2023; the pattern of delayed official response compounds both the human cost and public trust. Until a verified account emerges, the death toll and injury count remain unconfirmed, but the scale of hospital admissions alone demands an urgent administrative review.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Puri Rath Yatra on 16 July 2025?
A stampede-like situation was reported near Marichikund Square during the Puri Rath Yatra on 16 July, allegedly caused by a rope barricade collapse or pilgrims losing their footing. One person reportedly died due to suffocation, though authorities had not officially confirmed the death as of the time of reporting.
Has the Odisha government confirmed the stampede or the death?
No. As of the time of publication, there was no official confirmation from authorities regarding either the stampede-like incident or the reported fatality. The account comes from a witness who spoke to reporters at the scene.
How many people were hospitalised at Puri Rath Yatra?
Sources claimed around 200 patients were admitted to hospitals and temporary health facilities in Puri, reporting suffocation and various injuries amid the large crowd and heavy rainfall on Thursday.
What is the Puri Rath Yatra and why does it draw such large crowds?
The Rath Yatra is a world-famous annual festival in Puri, Odisha, centred on the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple. It involves the ceremonial procession of the deity and divine siblings on decorated chariots to the Gundicha Temple for a nine-day sojourn. The event draws lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad each year.
What were the Pahandi Bije rituals at Rath Yatra 2025?
The Pahandi Bije is the ceremonial escorting of the deities from the Shree Jagannath Temple to their respective chariots, accompanied by traditional instruments, Vedic chanting, and Odissi dance. This year the rituals began ahead of schedule but were delayed by more than two hours before completion.
