Overview
- The government directed disciplinary proceedings against seven named officers after the probe into the June 29 stampede that killed three and injured at least 20.
- The inquiry found the two senior-most officers on site, Ajay Kumar Padhi and Vishnu Prasad Pati, were physically absent during the critical period, and both are under suspension with proceedings sought under Rule 15 of the Odisha Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1962.
- Other officers were cited for failures that included poor crowd control and allowing a loaded vehicle into a dense gathering, with Commandant Tapas Ranjan Das, Deputy Commandant K.K. Nayak, DSP Prasanta Kumar Sahoo, and Inspector Susanta Kumar Sahoo among those named.
- The ICCC’s surveillance system underperformed, with only about 123 of 275 cameras functioning, missing AI analytics for crowd density and facial recognition, and drone feeds not used as required, prompting the blacklisting of M/s Invent Grid India Pvt Ltd.
- The DGP was asked to submit an action-taken report to the Home Department, as officials noted earlier administrative moves such as the transfer of the Puri SP and detailed the incident trigger of two trucks entering Saradhabali around 4am where about 1,500 devotees had gathered.