PURI: A devotee died and over 300 others fainted due to suffocation as more than 10 lakh people took part in Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri on Sunday as the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra rolled down the Grand Road. Police, however, ruled out a stampede-like situation.
Close on the heels of the Hathras stampede that left 121 dead, a chaotic situation arose here around 6.30pm near Lord Balabhadra’s chariot while it was being pulled by a large number of devotees and some of them sustained injuries after falling down, Puri district administration sources said.
“We are trying to find out the circumstances leading to the incident. There was an unprecedented rush of devotees, who were restless to pull the chariots. It was not a stampede,” Puri SP Pinak Mishra said.
“Over 300 devotees were brought to the hospital. Almost all of them have been discharged after first aid,” said Prasant Kumar Pattnaik, a doctor. Health minister Mukesh Mahaling and senior health officials rushed to Puri district headquarters hospital to oversee the situation.
President Droupadi Murmu, who attended the Rath Yatra here on Sunday, bowed before the chariots and sought the blessings of the deities. She also pulled the chariot of Devi Subhadra.
Odisha governor Raghubar Das, CM Mohan Majhi and leader of the opposition Naveen Patnaik also participated in the annual sojourn.
