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.
The deceased has been identified as Anil Das of Keonjhar.
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.
Volunteers responded swiftly and he was immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
However, there was no confirmation in this regard from the administration.
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.
