Puri Stampede: 2 Cops Suspended, 2 Officials Transferred

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered a personal apology and sought forgiveness from devotees for the tragic loss of lives outside the Gundicha temple due to the stampede in the wee hours on Sunday.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar

He ordered an administrative probe into the incident while transferring Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vinit Agrawal, and placing two SP-rank officers DCP Bishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi under suspension for the lapses. The administrative inquiry will be conducted by the development Commissioner Anu Garg.

Stating that such negligence, which led to the incident, was unpardonable, Majhi said necessary steps will be taken by the government to ensure strict exemplary action against those found responsible. "I have ordered a probe, and necessary steps will be taken to ensure strict and exemplary action against those found responsible," he said.