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One devotee died and around 100 were injured. (Photo: X)
The annual Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 went tragic after a stampede-like incident on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) where one devotee died and around 100 injured during the chaos. The incident came as lakhs of devotees lined up in Puri, Odisha to watch the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
The authorities have opened an inquiry into the incident, and have not yet reported the exact reason for the crowd chaos to cause the incident.
The stampede-like incident took place on Bada Danda where huge crowds assembled to watch villagers pulling the three chariots. The initial reports said a devotee suffered severe breathing difficulties in the crowd and immediately rushed to Puri District Headquarters Hospital. The doctors later declared the person as deceased.
According to the officials, around 100 devotees mentioned to have been injured or hurt during the chaos, out of whom more than 50 are reported to have been admitted to the hospital.
The real reason behind the incident is yet to be confirmed. Police are assessing whether an excessive number of people, limited access and other factors caused the panic. Videos from the incident showed personal belongings, slippers and bags lying on the roads as injured spiritual seekers were rushed to nearby hospitals.
The police will publish a detailed report after an assessment of the situation surrounding the incident.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the largest and most popular religious festivals in India, drawing lakhs of devotees from across India and overseas every year. The yearly processions mark the path of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
The 2026 Rath Yatra began with traditional rites such as the ceremonial procession of Chakraraj Sudarshan to Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan chariot, with the sounding of the gongs and blowing of conch shells.
During the 2025 Jagannath Rath Yatra, at least three devotees were killed and over 50 were injured in a stampede near the Shri Gundicha Temple. The crowd surge reportedly occurred after trucks carrying ritual materials entered an already congested area where devotees had gathered for the sacred 'Pahuda' ritual.
