In the continuing administrative enquiry into the deadly stampede that took place during the Rath Yatra festivity at Puri district, Odisha on June 29, now 147 persons have made their statements so far, confirmed the officials on Thursday. Three people lost their lives and almost 50 were injured in the rush as it occurred near the Shree Gundicha temple, wherein a stampede took place.
Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg was appointed by the state government to head the inquiry, to find out the circumstances under which the incident occurred. Garg has been given the role of submitting a detailed report by July 30.
As per the officials, the recent hearing took place at the Special Circuit House in Puri on Wednesday wherein the testimonies of 42 people, including policemen and the staff who were present at the Integrated Command and Control Centre at the time of the incident were heard.
According to Garg, the statements have been taken in four different sessions in both Bhubaneswar and Puri. There were 17 members participating in the public hearing conducted at Bhubaneswar, along with three more public hearings arranged within Puri whereby a few more such as the locals and the officials gave their version of the stampede.
The stampede took place in early mornings on June 29, when the three chariots of the brother god-sister deities that is, the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were stationed in front of Shree Gundicha temple which attracted thousands of devotees.
The incident led state government suspending the then Collector and Superintendent of Police of Puri in the aftermath of the incident. Garg has now been to the scene of the episode and has spoken to servitors, police officials, general citizens and media personalities. She has also asked media houses and citizens to provide video footages that can assist in the investigation.