Overview

• At least three pilgrims were killed—the first fatalities recorded near the Gundicha Temple—and about 50 injured early June 29 after two ritual trucks entered an overcrowded Saradhabali area.
• Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi transferred District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Superintendent of Police Vineet Agrawal and suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi for alleged negligence.
• The Odisha government announced ₹25 lakh ex gratia for each deceased’s next of kin and pledged medical assistance to all injured devotees.
• Development Commissioner Anu Garg has been tasked with leading a high-level administrative inquiry with a July 30 deadline to identify lapses in planning and emergency response.
• Senior bureaucrat Aravind Agarwal has been appointed to oversee enhanced crowd controls and logistics as the Rath Yatra ceremonies continue.