Elephants run amok during 148th Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, triggering panic among devotees
Ahmedabad: Chaos erupted during the 148th grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannathji in Ahmedabad on Friday morning after three elephants participating in the procession broke free and ran wild through the densely crowded Khadia area, triggering a stampede-like situation.
The incident took place shortly after Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off the yatra by performing the traditional, Pahind Vidhi, the ceremonial cleaning of the path for Lord Jagannath's chariot, a moment further marked by the offering of an honor guard to the deity for the first time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family also took part in the early morning Mangala Aarti at the Jamalpur Jagannath Temple.
Eyewitnesses recounted terrifying moments as the elephants, one of which was leading a group of 18, veered off the designated route. “One minute we were cheering, the next there were elephants charging,” said long-time devotee Ramesh Bhai. “Everyone just started running. It was terrifying.”
The elephants, reportedly agitated by the crowd and noise, charged into the throng of devotees, creating a scene of panic and confusion. Police and forest department staff immediately swung into action, issuing urgent instructions to volunteers to cease whistle-blowing and other noises that could further agitate the animals.
Forest officials and mahouts eventually managed to tranquilize and calm the elephants. According to sources, the situation was brought under control immediately, and no serious injuries were reported. “It was terrifying, but the police and mahouts acted swiftly,” said Meena Patel, another devotee. “It’s a miracle no one was seriously hurt.”
Despite the incident, the yatra, one of the most elaborate religious processions in the country, continued with the participation of thousands of saints, monks, and devotees from across India. The grand event featured 18 elephants, 101 decorated trucks showcasing Indian heritage, 30 akhadas (martial art troupes), 18 bhajan groups, and three bands.
The viral video of the elephants breaking free has drawn widespread attention on social media, with many expressing relief that a potentially fatal disaster was narrowly averted.
An elephant went out of control during Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, there was a stampede.
— Siddharth (@Siddharth_00001) June 27, 2025
The uncontrollable elephant was leading a group of 18 elephants in the Rath Yatra. It was controlled by the forest department staff.
Jagannath Mahaprabhu sabhi ki raksha kare… pic.twitter.com/F1L1jA5ium
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Mumbai family deaths: FDA finds no watermelon vendor in area to check for affected stock
Mumbai (PTI): The Food and Drug Administration team probing the cause of death of four members of a family in south Mumbai's JJ Marg area have not been able to zero in on any watermelon vendor in the vicinity to check if the fruit had a role to play in the ill-fated incident, an official said on Thursday.
The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road, had hosted a get-together of relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 am, hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) ate pieces of a watermelon.
They suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea in the early hours of April 26 and were rushed to a local hospital before being referred to the government-run J J Hospital where all four died during treatment.
"The FDA team visited the house of Dokadia and collected samples of chicken pulao and watermelon pieces. After two days, the leftover chicken pulao had developed fungus growth. The team also tried to locate watermelon vendors to check for any affected lots," he said.
But no vendors were found in the area for the past two days, preventing the FDA team from getting samples, the official added.
The FDA has requested the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to share the report on the food samples collected by them, he added.
A senior Mumbai police official said the force is waiting for FSL reports in the case, adding that questions on presence of sedatives etc in the fruit could be answered only then.
The statements of the kin of the deceased are being recorded to ascertain if it is a case of mass suicide, and it is being checked if the Dokadia family were in debt or distressed over some issue, the police official said.
