Bhubaneswar, July 19: Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg continued her investigation into the tragic stampede near Puri’s Gundicha Temple that occurred on June 29 during the Rath Yatra, claiming three lives. On Saturday, she conducted a formal hearing at the Department of Planning & Coordination in Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

As per the Information & Public Relations Department, five senior police officers who were deployed during the Rath Yatra appeared before Garg to provide their testimonies. The hearings aim to determine lapses in crowd control and administrative preparedness during the massive annual event.

Garg is also scheduled to record statements from more senior officials from both the civil and police administrations today. Prior to this, around 40 officials who were on duty during the incident presented their versions during a hearing held at Puri’s Circuit House.

To gain firsthand insights, Garg had earlier visited the stampede site near the Gundicha Temple. Accompanied by the Puri Collector, SP, and the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, she conducted an on-site assessment and held discussions with servitors, police officers, and media personnel. The tragic incident left three devotees dead and raised serious concerns over crowd management strategies.

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