One devotee died and around 100 others were injured after a stampede-like situation erupted during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri on Thursday. The incident occurred on the Bada Danda (Grand Road), where lakhs of devotees had gathered to witness the annual procession of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
According to preliminary information, a devotee developed severe breathing difficulties amid the massive crowd and was rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital. Doctors later declared the person dead. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the death was directly caused by the crowd surge.
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Officials said nearly 100 devotees suffered injuries or health-related complications during the incident, while around 50 people were admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Emergency teams and volunteers quickly shifted the injured to medical facilities as panic spread through the area.
Television visuals showed devotees being evacuated from the crowded route while slippers, bags and other personal belongings were left scattered across the road, indicating the chaos that unfolded.
The exact cause of the stampede-like situation has not yet been officially determined. Authorities have launched an assessment and are expected to submit a detailed report after examining the circumstances that led to the incident.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the tragedy and urged the state government to strengthen crowd management measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims. In a post on X, he offered condolences to the family of the deceased, wished a speedy recovery to those injured and assured that Biju Janata Dal workers would assist devotees during the crisis.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across India and abroad every year. Last year, a similar crowd-related incident during the festival claimed three lives and left over 50 people injured, raising renewed concerns over crowd control arrangements at one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.
