Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the devotees killed in the tragic stampede at Saradhabali in Puri. The incident claimed the lives of three devotees, and several others were injured.
Patnaik prayed to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha for the swift recovery of the injured devotees and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He also urged the government to take corrective measures to ensure the smooth conduct of upcoming Rath Yatra rituals, including Adapa Bije, Bahuda, Suna Besha, and others.
“The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day was conveniently attributed to ‘Mahaprabhu’s wish”, a shocking excuse that masks the administration’s complete abdication of responsibility,” he stated on ‘X’.
The stampede occurred just a day after the Rath Yatra, which faced criticism for poor crowd management, resulting in hundreds of injuries. Patnaik criticised the government’s handling of the event, citing an inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day. He attributed this delay to the administration’s lack of responsibility rather than any divine intervention.
