Jagannath Rath Yatra: Chaos at Ahmedabad as elephants go out of control

Jigar Saraswat 51 seconds ago 0 1

The clip shows people running in panic as the mahouts try to control the group of elephants during the Rath Yatra.

During the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, chaos broke out after a group of elephants accompanying the procession went out of control and trampled several people. A video of the incident, shared by the news agency PTI, captured the moment chaos unfolded during the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad.

Chaos at Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad.

As per the video shared by PTI, the footage shows people scattering in panic as mahouts struggle to regain control of the elephants. In one of the clips, an elephant can be seen charging directly toward the crowd, prompting devotees and bystanders to run away through the narrow lanes. The incident happened on Friday at around 10.15 am as the Jagannath Rath Yatra procession was passing through the densely packed Khadia area of Ahmedabad. According to a report, at least two people were injured.

What happened at the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad?

According to officials cited by a leading portal, a decorated elephant suddenly went out of control from the group and ran in the opposite direction, triggering panic among devotees gathered along the narrow lanes of the walled city. One of the other two elephants also reportedly strayed from the designated route, which added to the chaos and panic among the devotees.

An AI system for avoiding stampedes.

It is estimated that 14 to 15 lakh devotees are expected to line the 16km route of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Friday. To ensure the crowd’s safety, nearly 23,800 security personnel have been deployed across the city. An AI-based surveillance system has been introduced to help monitor crowd management and prevent potential stampede-like situations, as per an official government release.

The procession in Ahmedabad typically features a grand line-up of 18 elephants, around 100 trucks, 30 akhadas or local gyms and devotional music groups like bhajan mandalis.