3 killed and a dozen others hospitalized after crowd surge at eastern India Hindu festival
Associated PressJUL 1
India: 3 Killed, 50 Injured in Stampede at Hindu Festival
Above: The chariot of Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra festival in Ahmedabad, India, on June 27, 2025. Image copyright: Saurabh Sirohiya/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
This tragedy exposes the state government's complete failure in basic crowd management and safety protocols. The administration's negligence is unforgivable — VIP arrangements took priority over devotee safety, creating chaos when ordinary people were forced to use distant exits while trucks entered restricted areas. Three lives could have been saved with proper planning and adequate police presence during night hours.
Pro-government narrative
The incident occurred due to an overwhelming surge of devotees eager to witness the sacred deities, creating an unfortunate situation despite adequate security arrangements being in place. The government has taken immediate responsibility, providing substantial compensation to victims' families and implementing strict administrative action, including transfers and suspensions of officials to ensure accountability.