Bhubaneswar: Rath Yatra celebrations turned tragic in Odisha as two persons died in separate mishaps in Ganjam and Bhadrak districts of the state.
As per information, a youth died after being crushed under the wheels of a chariot during Rath Yatra at Shikula village under the jurisdiction of Purushottampur police station in Ganjam district on Friday.
Sources said the youth, identified as Shibaram Behera, accidentally slipped and fell under the chariot wheel while it was being pulled during the procession.
He sustained critical injuries and locals rushed him to a hospital at Purushottampur. He was later referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In another incident during Rath Yatra celebrations in Bhadrak, a minor boy died after a DJ vehicle overturned at Anaharapur village under Dhamnagar block of the district on Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Soumyaranjan Raut (14). The mishap occurred when the DJ vehicle lost balance while moving on an uneven stretch of road and overturned, crushing the boy under it, locals said.
Tension prevailed in the area following the incident, prompting the authorities to deploy one platoon of police force along with Dhamnagar police personnel to maintain law and order.