<p>The Saturday-like stampede which claimed two lives besides landing several others in hospitals is nothing new during Rath Yatra or the Car Festival in Puri. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In the last one decade, such mishaps had taken place in the temple town more than once during the annual mega event. Unfortunately, the state police has not been able to master the art of crowd management despite handling such large gatherings year after year.<br /><br />Eight people were killed during the Rath Yatra in Puri in 2008. Similar minor stampede had also taken place during the 2010 and 2011 events, killing two and one devotees, respectively.<br /><br />After the 2008 mishap, the state government had appointed a judicial commission to probe the incident. <br /><br />The commission has submitted its findings and recommendations to the government but it is not yet known what steps the administration has initiated on the commission’s recommendations.<br /><br /> The report--like many other judicial commission findings--is yet to be tabled in the state Assembly. This year’s Rath Yatra was special because of Nabakalebara.</p>
<p>The Saturday-like stampede which claimed two lives besides landing several others in hospitals is nothing new during Rath Yatra or the Car Festival in Puri. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In the last one decade, such mishaps had taken place in the temple town more than once during the annual mega event. Unfortunately, the state police has not been able to master the art of crowd management despite handling such large gatherings year after year.<br /><br />Eight people were killed during the Rath Yatra in Puri in 2008. Similar minor stampede had also taken place during the 2010 and 2011 events, killing two and one devotees, respectively.<br /><br />After the 2008 mishap, the state government had appointed a judicial commission to probe the incident. <br /><br />The commission has submitted its findings and recommendations to the government but it is not yet known what steps the administration has initiated on the commission’s recommendations.<br /><br /> The report--like many other judicial commission findings--is yet to be tabled in the state Assembly. This year’s Rath Yatra was special because of Nabakalebara.</p>