Puri: Over 600 devotees were admitted to hospital at Puri after they reportedly sustained injuries and illness during the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and siblings on Friday.
According to sources, the huge congregation of devotees to witness and participate in the car festival was unprecedented this time. The number of visitors was unusually high, which reportedly led to a chaotic situation on the Grand Road. The huge crowd led to a situation where many people required medical attention.
Moreover, the unusual delay in pulling the chariots was stated to be one of the major reasons behind the injuries and illnesses caused to the devotees. Many of them complained of suffocation, nausea, uneasiness and fatigue.
The challenging task of manoeuvring of Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot affected the chariot pulling.
Officials said an unusually high number of people entered the restricted cordoned-off area, hampering the smooth movement of the chariots and leading to congestion. Many people sustained injuries and fell ill due to overcrowding.
Puri witnessed an overwhelming number of devotees this year, far exceeding expectations, which intensified the crowd management challenges.
Authorities are reportedly continuing efforts to manage the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims.
Sources said most of the affected devotees were rushed to High-tech Hospital and High Dependency Unit, while some others were provided treatment at the OPD. Around eight devotees were taken to the District Headquarter Hospital (DHH) as their condition was serious.
