Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced Rs 4 lakh financial compensation for the family of the devotee who died due to suffocation during Rath Yatra in Puri on Sunday.
Expressing his condolence to the family of the deceased, Lalita Bagarti from Saintala of Balangir district, the chief minister announced the compensation. The chief minister also directed the authorities to provide free treatment to the devotees who were injured during the pulling of chariots.
It may be noted that a stampede-like situation prevailed when pulling of Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra started on Bada Danda (Grand Road) of the Pilgrim Town in the evening. As thousands of people rushed to participate in chariot pulling, Bagarti got trapped in the melee.
Unable to withstand the pressure from the crowd, he fell down unconscious. The police with the help of volunteers rushed him to the district headquarters hospital. But the doctors declared him brought dead.
