BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday targeted the Odisha government over the reported death of a devotee during the Bahuda Yatra in Puri, alleging that the incident reflected continued administrative failure in managing the annual Rath Yatra festivities and ensuring the safety of lakhs of pilgrims.
In a statement, BJD Vice‑President and former minister Sanjay Kumar Das Burma expressed grief over the reported death of 57‑year‑old Abhiram Das of Kataka, who allegedly died after a stampede‑like situation near Darpadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra, close to Bagala Dharamshala during the Bahuda Yatra on Friday.
According to the BJD, the devotee was first administered treatment at the Bagala First Aid Centre before being shifted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
“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,” Burma alleged.
The opposition party also claimed that 102 devotees who fell ill or sustained injuries on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) during the Bahuda Yatra were admitted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital. Of them, 24 devotees were stated to be in critical condition and undergoing treatment in the Trauma Care Unit.
“These alarming figures clearly indicate that the administration has learnt no lessons from the previous tragedy and that its negligence and mismanagement have once again placed the lives of thousands of devotees at risk,” he added.
The BJD demanded that the state government immediately announce adequate compensation for the family of the deceased devotee and ensure that critically injured pilgrims receiving treatment in the Trauma Care Unit are shifted without delay to super‑speciality hospitals in Bhubaneswar for advanced medical care.
Das Burma further alleged that despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s claims of ensuring a flawless and well‑managed Rath Yatra, repeated occurrence of such tragedies has not only brought embarrassment to the people of Odisha but has also diminished the sanctity and dignity of the sacred festival.
He urged the government to acknowledge the shortcomings and work with sincerity so that the forthcoming rituals of Suna Besha, Adharapana and Niladri Bije are conducted safely, peacefully, systematically and with dignity befitting the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
The BJD also demanded that the state government immediately order a judicial inquiry into all deaths and injuries caused due to stampedes and failures in crowd management 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 opposition party stated.
