Puri: A devotee died and several others sustained injuries as a stampede-like situation emerged ahead of the chariot pulling during the Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri on Thursday.
In an unrelated incident, another person died of cardiac arrest, official sources said.
According to preliminary information, the man reportedly fell down after experiencing severe breathlessness amid the heavy crowd near Marichikot Chhak on the Bada Danda, around 100 feet from a police cordon.
Maintaining that there was no stampede in Puri, officials said a temporary crowd surge resulted in several devotees feeling unwell. They were immediately attended to by the authorities and shifted to the hospital for prompt medical care.
Among them, one male devotee aged above 60 years unfortunately succumbed. The exact cause of death is being ascertained by the concerned medical authorities. The deceased has been identified as Anil Das of Kendujhar.
Several other devotees were also reported to have been injured in the incident. They were shifted to the hospital and are currently undergoing treatment. While the exact number of those who fell ill was yet to be ascertained, eyewitnesses claimed around 120 injured devotees were transported in ambulances to hospital for medical attention.
The incident occurred as massive crowds thronged the Grand Road to witness the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Authorities are yet to issue detailed information regarding the circumstances that led to the stampede-like situation.
Officials said the overall situation in Puri was normal and adequate crowd management measures were in place. Devotees are requested to remain calm, follow the directions of the police and administration, and avoid spreading or believing unverified information, they added.
Speaking on the incident, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said detailed information regarding the circumstances that led to the situation is being collected. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has asked the Health Minister to visit the hospital where some of the affected devotees are undergoing treatment, he said.
