Stampede Robs Sheen of Nabakalebara Rath Yatra

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Jul 19, 2015 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — Tragedy struck the century's first Nabakalebara Rath Yatra (chariot pulling festival of newly carved idols) as two women were trampled to death and several others, mostly women and children, were injured in a stampede in front of the chariots here on Saturday. Identities of the deceased, in their 50s, were not ascertained at the time of filing this report.

The festive mood was further overshadowed by grief when a man drowned in the sea and another was run over by a train in Puri. There was also a report that a man allegedly died after falling from a roof while watching the chariot pulling festival on Grand Road, facing the Jagannath Temple.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Over 10 lakh pilgrims from across the country gathered on the 3 km Grand Road to catch glimpse of the newly carved Deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, whose old bodies were buried as part of Nabakalebara (formation of new idols) ritual last month. The last Nabakalebara was observed in 1996. The state government had expected a footfall of over 40 lakh pilgrims this year, even as annual Rath Yatra in the past drew only around 5 to 6 lakh pilgrims.

The mishap occurred when curious devotees were impatiently waiting to catch glimpse of the new Deities aboard their bedecked chariots, which were scheduled to be tugged to Gundicha Temple (aunt's place of the Deities), about 3 km from Jagannath Temple. Eyewitnesses said the stampede occurred at two places—Marichikot Chhak and Narendra Kona—after the Deities were taken out of the Jagannath Temple onto their chariots.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

"When the chariot of Lord Balabhadra started rolling from Jagannath Temple, pilgrims became restless. Police created more trouble when we wanted to go close to the chariots. Police pushed us vehemently, causing the stampede," said an injured woman, V. S. Kumari, 45, from Hyderabad. Eyewitnesses said the two deaths were reported at Marichikot Chhak. Over 20 were injured when the Balabhadra's chariot reached Narendra Kona, eyewitnesses said.

"The two women were received dead in the district headquarters hospital. Over 20 pilgrims, including a few children were admitted with injuries. We have referred some of them to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as their condition deteriorated," Chief District Medical Officer Gyanendra Sahoo told media persons. "Prima facie, we suspect the two women died due to stampede," Sahoo said.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Over 500 pilgrims, mostly elders, fainted due to unbearable humidity and were given first-aid at different temporary health camps in Puri. "All of them were released after treatment. They are safe," said Sahoo.

DGP Sanjeev Marik, however, sought to downplay the stampede. "The deaths occurred due to suffocation in intense humidity," Marik told media persons. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) recently announced insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh for each unnatural death during the nine-day car festival in Puri. Six pilgrims had died in stampede in front of the chariots in 2008.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Amidst the gloomy ambience, the chariots of Subhadra and Jagannath could not reach Gudicha Temple on Saturday, as the priests call it a day in the evening. "Chariot of Balabadra reached the destination. The chariot pulling will resume on Sunday morning," said temple's spokesperson Laxmidhar Pujapanda.