What began as a grand spiritual celebration turned into moments of terror during the 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad on Friday morning, when three elephants participating in the procession broke loose, creating panic along the Khadia stretch of the yatra route.
The unexpected commotion saw thousands of devotees fleeing in fear as the elephants suddenly veered off course and sprinted through the densely packed crowd. “One moment we were singing and cheering, and the next, elephants were charging toward us,” said Ramesh Bhai, a long-time devotee. “People scattered in all directions—it was absolute chaos.”
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
The situation escalated quickly, prompting police and security volunteers to act swiftly. Instructions were issued to halt all whistles and loud sounds to avoid further distressing the animals. The incident cast a shadow over what had otherwise been a well-organized and vibrant morning of religious fervor.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had formally flagged off the yatra after performing the traditional Pahind Vidhi (ritual cleaning of the path). Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by his family, also took part in the Mangala Aarti at the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, marking a pious start to the day.
This year’s Rath Yatra featured an impressive cultural showcase: 18 elephants, 101 heritage-themed trucks, 30 akhadas, 18 bhajan groups, and three band teams formed part of the procession. Saints and devotees from religious centres including Ayodhya, Haridwar, and Nashik had also gathered, adding to the spiritual atmosphere.
Thanks to the timely intervention of police personnel and mahouts, the elephants were soon tranquilized and brought under control. “It was terrifying, but authorities handled it swiftly,” said Meena Patel, a devotee who witnessed the chaos. “The fact that there were no major injuries is nothing short of miraculous.”
The Rath Yatra resumed after the incident, with heightened vigilance and renewed safety measures in place for the remainder of the sacred journey.
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