A joyous evening transformed into panic on Thursday night during Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal’s much-awaited performance at the concluding day of Odisha’s iconic Balijatra festival in Cuttack, when a stampede-like situation broke out near the stage. Thousands of fans who had gathered on the banks of the Mahanadi river suddenly pushed forward in excitement, leading to two people—including a woman—fainting and several others sustaining injuries in the crush.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of utter chaos as the crowd, desperate for a closer glimpse of the popular playback singer, broke through weak points in the barricading. The sudden surge caused people to stumble and fall, triggering widespread panic. Those who lost consciousness were quickly carried out by fellow attendees and rushed to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention, while many others suffered bruises and minor injuries amid the frantic jostling.

Despite organisers anticipating an unprecedented turnout for the star-studded finale of Asia’s largest trade-cum-cultural fair, sources alleged that the Cuttack district administration severely underestimated the crowd size and failed to implement adequate safety measures. Insufficient barricading, narrow entry-exit corridors, and limited deployment of security personnel created a perfect storm that turned celebration into confusion within minutes of Shreya Ghoshal stepping onto the stage.

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Police swung into action immediately, with Additional Commissioner of Police Narasingha Bhol personally arriving at the venue to supervise rescue efforts and ensure orderly dispersal. Senior officers remained on high alert throughout the night, directing additional forces to prevent any further incidents and safely evacuate the massive gathering from the sprawling fairground.

The frightening episode has sparked sharp criticism of event management at Balijatra, one of India’s oldest and most celebrated festivals, and raised urgent questions about crowd safety protocols when national celebrities perform. Authorities now face demands for a thorough inquiry and stricter guidelines to ensure such incidents are never repeated in future editions.

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