A sudden surge of devotees during the ceremonial chariot pulling in Puri’s famed Rath Yatra on Friday left more than 600 pilgrims injured, triggering concerns about crowd control amid searing humidity and swelling footfall. The injuries were reported during the pulling of the Taladhwaja chariot, dedicated to Lord Balabhadra, one of the three colossal wooden chariots drawn as part of the annual procession.
The incident occurred on the Grand Road in front of the Jagannath Temple, as part of a centuries-old ritual which marks the journey of the deities from their sanctum to the Gundicha Temple, located around 2.5 kms away.
The large-scale injuries stemmed from overcrowding and a sudden forward push as devotees surged towards the ropes of the Taladhwaja chariot to partake in the sacred ritual. The swelling crowd led to several people falling and fainting, many of whom required medical attention on the spot or at nearby facilities.
Sources said that of the injured devotees, 581 were admitted to the High-Tech Hospital, while 173 were taken to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and 68 received treatment at the out-patient department (OPD). However, at least eight devotees had to be shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) after their condition worsened.
#WATCH | Puri, Odisha | Ambulances reached the Rath Yatra spot after some people complained of suffocation and were reported unconscious due to humidity.
The affected people were taken to the hospital and were provided with the required medical assistance https://t.co/Fie3j5sA03 pic.twitter.com/JYIkSUi7jj
Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling, responding to the situation, said the high humidity may have contributed to several devotees collapsing during the festival.
Also read: Rath Yatra begins as sibling deities take seat in chariots
“One or two devotees collapsed due to the weather conditions, but rescue teams responded quickly and took them to the hospital,” Mahaling told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Mahaling also highlighted about the preparations made to ensure medical support. “I’m also here to personally ensure that adequate medical support is available and will visit the hospital to check on those needing care,” he said, adding that arrangements for water and glucose had been made and that primary health care centres had been set up near the temple.
The Rath Yatra, one of the grandest religious spectacles in India, attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad to the coastal pilgrim town each year. The festival marks the symbolic journey of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra from their temple abode to the Gundicha Temple, located roughly 2.5 kilometres away. The return journey, known as Bahuda Yatra, takes place a week later.
Despite the deployment of close to 10,000 personnel to maintain order, including eight companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the immense crowd was difficult to regulate at certain key junctures.
Local authorities and volunteers continued to assist those in distress through the day, and no major casualty has been reported till the time of filing this report. However, medical teams are still attending to the injured, most of whom suffered from exhaustion, minor fractures or bruises caused by the stampede-like rush.
Officials said the festival will continue as scheduled, with additional safety checks and enhanced crowd monitoring for the remaining events of the Rath Yatra.
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