Randeep Surjewala Calls for State-Level Crowd Safety Task Forces After Puri Rath Yatra Tragedy

By A Staff Reporter

Bengaluru: In the wake of the recent stampede during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, senior Congress leader and AICC incharge for Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, has called for the establishment of State Crowd Safety Task Forces (SCSTF) across India. Addressing media on the issue, Surjewala expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and emphasized the urgent need for systemic crowd management reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.

"Various facts have emerged in the media suggesting that a VIP entry caused a blockage, triggering the deadly incident," Surjewala said, questioning the persistent “VIP syndrome” at public events. He drew parallels with similar tragedies in Bengaluru and Thane, asserting that loss of life should never be measured by political or regional lenses. “Every life is important, whether in Odisha, Maharashtra, or Karnataka. We must stop the 'your tragedy versus my tragedy' approach,” he added.

The Congress leader proposed that each state set up an SCSTF comprising personnel from the police, home guards, disaster management authorities, local bodies, and event organisers. He urged the central government to bear 50% of the costs for establishing such task forces. “It is time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take note of the Rath Yatra incident and act decisively,” he stated.

Surjewala also confirmed that he would be meeting with the Chief Minister of Karnataka to push for the immediate formation of an SCSTF in the state. “We must learn from the tragedies in Puri, Bengaluru, and Thane. The solution lies in proactive safety mechanisms, not reactive politics,” he concluded.