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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Deputy CM DK Shivakumar rejects allegations of Surjewala meeting Karnataka officials
Hassan (Karnataka), Jul 26 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday refuted allegations that Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had met with state government officials, terming it "completely false".Speaking to reporters at Arsikere, Shivakumar clarified that Randeep Surjewala has neither met nor spoken to any officials.
“This is our government. If there is anything to be conveyed, he (Surjewala) will tell us directly. If there are any mistakes, he will inform us, and we will correct them. Apart from that, saying he met officials is false,” Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president said.
Asked about Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna’s statement that such meetings with officials are "illegal", Shivakumar declined to comment.
“I don’t want to speak about senior leaders. The Chief Minister has already responded to this. After his clarification, I have nothing further to say. The Chief Minister has more information than I do,” he said.
