During the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri on Thursday, a horrific crowd rush resulted in the hospitalization of over 30 people and 1 devotee has allegedly died due to suffocation.
What happened to the devotee?
The Indian Express reported that a 45-year-old devotee became unconscious due to heavy rush on the Grand Road in Puri. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital but was later declared dead. The number of casualties has not been officially confirmed by the authorities.
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Authorities respond
“Additional healthcare personnel were deployed to take care of sick devotees. Senior officials are monitoring the situation,” said an official. Hospital sources said that the condition of most patients are stable.
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Every year, almost 5 lakh devotees from Odisha and outside gather at Puri to witness the Rath Yatra, where the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are believed to embark on an annual sojourn from their temples to Gundicha Temple. Devotees pull three large chariots to mark the special occasion.
FAQs
1) What happened on Thursday in Puri?
On Thursday, during the Rath Yatra in Puri, over 30 people were hospitalised and 1 devotee died due to suffocation and crowd rush.
2) What did authorities say about the incident?
Authorities have said that the condition of patients is stable and senior officials are monitoring the situations.