The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) criticized the Odisha government for the death of a devotee during the Bahuda Yatra in Puri. The incident, where a 57-year-old devotee named Abhiram Das reportedly died in a stampede-like situation, raised concerns about the administration’s handling of the Rath Yatra festivities.
BJD Vice-President Sanjay Kumar Das Burma expressed sorrow over the devotee’s death near Darpadalana, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. Despite initial treatment at the Bagala First Aid Centre and later at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, the devotee could not be saved. Burma highlighted the need for better safety measures and crowd management during such events.
The opposition party pointed out that 102 devotees fell ill or got injured during the Bahuda Yatra, with 24 of them in critical condition at the Trauma Care Unit of the Puri District Headquarters Hospital. This raised questions about the administration’s preparedness and its failure to prevent such incidents despite past tragedies.
The BJD demanded immediate compensation for the deceased devotee’s family and swift transfer of critically injured pilgrims to advanced medical facilities in Bhubaneswar. Das Burma emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes to ensure the safety and sanctity of future religious rituals associated with Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
