One dead, several injured in stampede-like situation during Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri
A devotee reportedly died of suspected suffocation, and several others were feared injured during the world-famous Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri on Thursday, as massive crowds gathered to witness the annual chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
OTV reported that the devotee collapsed after allegedly experiencing suffocation while waiting on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to watch the chariot pulling ceremony. He was rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Several other devotees were also reported injured in the crowd, with emergency teams providing medical assistance and shifting the injured for treatment.
Police and disaster response personnel rushed to the spot and are assessing the situation as authorities monitor crowd management during the annual procession to the Gundicha Temple.
