At least one person was killed, and around 100 devotees were reportedly injured after a temporary crowd surge led to a stampede-like situation during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in India's eastern city of Puri on Thursday, according to local media reports.&nbsp;The incident in Odisha took place on Bada Danda, also known as the Grand Road, where lakhs of devotees had gathered to witness the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra being pulled through the city, the reports said. Some reports&nbsp;&nbsp;Visuals from the spot showed security personnel helping injured and unwell devotees out of the crowd for medical treatment while also trying to disperse people to ease congestion.&nbsp;Reacting to the incident, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death and urged the state government to ensure the safety and convenience of devotees through effective crowd management.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ସମୟରେ ବଡ଼ଦାଣ୍ଡର ଭିଡ଼ରେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଳୁଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାଣହାନୀ ହୋଇଥିବା ଖବର ପାଇ ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଥିବା ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଳୁଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି ସହ ଆହତ ହୋଇଥିବା ଶତାଧିକ ଭକ୍ତଙ୍କ ଆଶୁଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ସଭିଙ୍କ ସହାୟତା ପାଇଁ ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ସମସ୍ତ କର୍ମୀ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସହଯୋଗ ଯୋଗାଇ ଦେବେ। ମୁଁ…&mdash; Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) <a href="https://x.com/Naveen_Odisha/status/2077735916584706222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of lives among devotees in the stampede at Badadanda during Rath Yatra. I pray for the eternal peace of the souls of the devotees who have lost their lives and for the swift recovery of the more than a hundred injured devotees. In this hour of grief, all workers of the Biju Janata Dal will extend their full cooperation to provide assistance to everyone. I hope that the state government will ensure the convenience and safety of the devotees by properly managing the crowds," Patnaik wrote on X.&nbsp;The Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of India's largest religious gatherings and attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across the country and abroad every year.&nbsp;A similar stampede had occurred during the Puri Rath Yatra last year because of crowd mismanagement, infrastructure lapses and logistical disruptions. Three people were killed, and more than 50 others were injured in that incident.

One person is feared dead, and around 200 devotees were reportedly injured after a crowd surge triggered a stampede-like situation during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri, according to local media reports.

At least one person was killed, and around 100 devotees were reportedly injured after a temporary crowd surge led to a stampede-like situation during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in India's eastern city of Puri on Thursday, according to local media reports. The incident in Odisha took place on Bada Danda, also known as the Grand Road, where lakhs of devotees had gathered to witness the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra being pulled through the city, the reports said. Some reports Visuals from the spot showed security personnel helping injured and unwell devotees out of the crowd for medical treatment while also trying to disperse people to ease congestion. Reacting to the incident, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death and urged the state government to ensure the safety and convenience of devotees through effective crowd management.

One person is feared dead, and around 100 devotees were reportedly injured after a crowd surge triggered a stampede-like situation during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri, according to local media reports.

Stampede-like situation during India's Puri Rath Yatra festival: One feared dead, say reports

The 9-day annual festival of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra began on Thursday (July 16) in the holy coastal city of Puri, Odisha amid India Meteorological Department's (IMD) prediction for heavy rainfall. This festival marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to their aunt’s abode at the Shree Gundicha Temple, Puri. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday (July 15) reviewed administrative preparedness and said that topmost priority of his government is the safety and convenience of devotees. The Puri district administration, municipal authorities, and all concerned departments are also on alert amid two COVID-19 deaths in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. With regards to IMD's prediction, the CM instructed authorities to ensure effective water drainage from the Grand Road (Bada Danda) and the entire city.&nbsp;“The state government is fully committed to the safety of devotees and the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra,” the Chief Minister said. Addressing the media, the DGP said 19 IPS officers and nearly 13,000 police personnel have been deployed across Puri for the festival. In addition, 15 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, including the CRPF, BSF, RAF and NSG, have been stationed at strategic locations to strengthen security. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-monsoon-imd-issues-heavy-rainfall-warning-in-several-states-1783853166299">India monsoon: IMD issues heavy rainfall warning in several states</a><h2>What is IMD's prediction?</h2>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for heavy rainfall in Puri. The IMD has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall in Puri and other districts of Odisha due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. The department has also predicted thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. According to the IMD advisory, the low-pressure area has formed under the influence of a cyclonic circulation in the upper atmosphere. The system is expected to move towards North Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal over the next two days, intensifying rainfall activity across both regions. On Tuesday (July 14), 65 mm to 107 mm of rainfall was recorded in 21 locations across districts such as Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Puri, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, and Jajpur.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/short-videos/kerala-100-year-old-kozhikode-railway-clock-tower-collapses-after-heavy-rain-1783670195804">Kerala: 100-year-old Kozhikode Railway clock tower collapses after heavy rain</a>&nbsp;The weather department has issued specific safety guidelines for visitors attending the Rath Yatra. In case of heavy rain or thunderstorms, it asked pilgrims to take shelter inside permanent buildings and avoid standing under trees or taking shelter near electric poles. It also asked pilgrims to not use temporary structures during lightning activity.

Puri's 9-day Jagannath Rath Yatra began on July 16 amid an IMD Red Alert for heavy rain. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed preparedness, while over 13,000 police personnel and central forces were deployed. Devotees have been advised to follow weather and safety advisories.

The 9-day annual festival of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra began on Thursday (July 16) in the holy coastal city of Puri, Odisha amid India Meteorological Department's (IMD) prediction for heavy rainfall. This festival marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to their aunt’s abode at the Shree Gundicha Temple, Puri. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday (July 15) reviewed administrative preparedness and said that topmost priority of his government is the safety and convenience of devotees. The Puri district administration, municipal authorities, and all concerned departments are also on alert amid two COVID-19 deaths in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. With regards to IMD's prediction, the CM instructed authorities to ensure effective water drainage from the Grand Road (Bada Danda) and the entire city. “The state government is fully committed to the safety of devotees and the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra,” the Chief Minister said. Addressing the media, the DGP said 19 IPS officers and nearly 13,000 police personnel have been deployed across Puri for the festival. In addition, 15 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, including the CRPF, BSF, RAF and NSG, have been stationed at strategic locations to strengthen security. Also Read: India monsoon: IMD issues heavy rainfall warning in several states What is IMD's prediction? The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for heavy rainfall in Puri. The IMD has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall in Puri and other districts of Odisha due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. The department has also predicted thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. According to the IMD advisory, the low-pressure area has formed under the influence of a cyclonic circulation in the upper atmosphere. The system is expected to move towards North Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal over the next two days, intensifying rainfall activity across both regions. On Tuesday (July 14), 65 mm to 107 mm of rainfall was recorded in 21 locations across districts such as Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Puri, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, and Jajpur. Also Read: Kerala: 100-year-old Kozhikode Railway clock tower collapses after heavy rain The weather department has issued specific safety guidelines for visitors attending the Rath Yatra. In case of heavy rain or thunderstorms, it asked pilgrims to take shelter inside permanent buildings and avoid standing under trees or taking shelter near electric poles. It also asked pilgrims to not use temporary structures during lightning activity.

Puri's 9-day Jagannath Rath Yatra began on July 16 amid an IMD Red Alert for heavy rain. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed preparedness, while over 13,000 police personnel and central forces were deployed. Devotees have been advised to follow weather and safety advisories.

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra begins amid IMD's forecast for heavy rain

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Stampede-like situation during India's Puri Rath Yatra festival: One feared dead, say reports

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra begins amid IMD's forecast for heavy rain