One critical, around 100 injured in stampede at Rath Yatra in Puri
One person was dead and around 100 devotees were injured after a stampede-like situation broke out during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on
One person was dead and around 100 devotees were injured after a stampede-like situation broke out during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on Thursday. The incident occurred on Bada Danda (Grand Road), where lakhs of devotees had gathered to witness the pulling of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
According to preliminary reports, a devotee who suffered severe breathing difficulties amid the heavy crowd was rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared the person dead. Read Full Story Officials said around 100 devotees sustained injuries or experienced health complications during the incident, with nearly 50 people admitted to hospitals for treatment.
Visuals from the scene showed injured devotees being rushed to hospitals, while slippers, bags and other belongings lay scattered across the area amid scenes of chaos and panic. The exact cause of the stampede has not yet been officially established. Authorities are assessing the situation and further details are awaited. The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India's largest religious congregations, draws lakhs of pilgrims from across the country and abroad every year.
Incidentally, a similar stampede occurred during the Puri Rath Yatra last year due to a combination of crowd mismanagement, infrastructure lapses and logistical disruptions. At least three people were killed and more than 50 others were injured in the incident. Ends
The BriefWire