Puri stampede: Puri Collector, SP transferred

Puri(Abhishek Mohanty): The Odisha government constituted a panel to probe into the deaths of three people that occurred due to stampede at Saradhabali in Puri.

The state government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for next of the kin of the deceased. 

Chanchal Rana has been appointed as the new Collector (District Magistrate, Puri in place of Siddharth Shankar Swain while Pinak Mishra replaced Vinit Agarwal as new SP.

Similarly, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi have been suspended pending investigation.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the Development Commissioner to conduct a detailed administrative inquiry to identify lapses and ensure accountability.

Three devotees lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in stampede near the Gundicha Temple at 4:20 AM on Sunday.