A 57-year-old devotee from Kataka, Abiram Das, collapsed near Devi Subhadra’s chariot during Bahuda Yatra & was declared dead at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital.
Das had come to witness the grand Bahuda Yatra — the return journey of the holy chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Standing close to the majestic Darpadalana Rath, he suddenly felt unwell and fell. Fellow devotees and seva karmis rushed to his aid and immediately took him to the nearby Bagala Primary Health Centre.
Doctors there provided emergency first aid, but his condition remained critical. He was quickly shifted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital for advanced care. Tragically, by the time he reached the hospital, doctors declared him brought dead.
Preliminary information suggests Das was suffering from high blood pressure, which may have contributed to the sudden collapse amid the intense heat, crowds and emotional fervour of the festival.
The administration has already initiated necessary procedures and is providing all required support to the family.
