New Delhi, June 29: Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri, calling it a "serious warning" regarding safety at large public gatherings.
In a statement posted on social media platform ‘X’, Gandhi emphasized that robust crowd management and security arrangements are essential for events of such scale. He warned that lapses in these responsibilities are unacceptable, as protecting lives must remain the top priority.
“This tragedy is a serious warning—security arrangements and crowd management for such large events must be taken seriously and thoroughly reviewed. Protecting lives is paramount, and no lapses in this responsibility are acceptable,” he wrote.
Calling the incident “extremely tragic,” Gandhi extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
He also called on the Odisha Government to intensify its relief efforts and urged Congress party workers to assist those affected.
“I appeal to the Odisha government to expedite relief efforts and urge Congress workers to provide every possible assistance in this regard,” he added.
