New Delhi [India], June 29 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Odisha government, following the stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra, claiming three lives on Sunday, with several injured.
He said that the negligence and mismanagement that led to this tragedy are inexcusable.
Sharing an X post, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, "I am deeply pained by the stampede during the Mahaprabhu Jagannath Rath Yatra, which claimed three lives and injured at least 50 people. This tragedy follows reports of 500 devotees being injured on Friday during the yatra. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured devotees. The negligence and mismanagement that led to this tragedy are inexcusable."
He requested that the state government conduct a thorough investigation into the security lapses.
He wrote, "The State Government and authorities must conduct a thorough investigation into the grave lapses that caused this incident. Ensuring public safety and effective crowd management is paramount, especially during pre-planned festivities. Those responsible for this tragedy must be held accountable under the law."
The Congress chief added that the party is committed to providing relief and medical assistance to the affected families.
"The Congress Party stands in solidarity with the devotees and commits to supporting all efforts to provide relief, medical assistance, and aid to the affected families," Kharge wrote on X.
Earlier on Sunday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik apologised to the devotees and directed the authorities to initiate action against those responsible for the incident.
Sharing an X post, CM Majhi expressed condolences and wrote, "Due to the intense eagerness among devotees to have a glimpse of Mahaprabhu at Sharadhabali, an unfortunate incident occurred because of the resulting jostling and chaos. Personally, I and my government seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees. We express our condolences to the families of those devotees whose lives were extinguished at Sharadhabali and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to grant them the strength to bear this profound sorrow."
He added that an investigation will be conducted into the security lapse and an action will be taken against those responsible.
"This negligence is unforgivable. An immediate investigation into the security lapse will be conducted, and I have directed that necessary steps be taken to initiate exemplary action against those responsible," the X post read.
The mishap occurred early this morning near the Gundicha Temple in Puri.
During the annual Rath Yatra, a massive crowd of devotees pull the holy chariots of the three deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Shubhadra, which are taken to the Gundicha Temple, a short distance from the Jagannath Temple. The three deities spend a week at the Gundicha Temple before returning to Jagannath Temple.
This year, the Rath Yatra commenced on Friday.