In a tragic event, a devotee died due to suffocation amidst a heavy crowd pulling Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot at the Rath Yatra in Puri this Sunday.
A stampede-like situation arose in the ongoing Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri, resulting in the death of a devotee due to suffocation and injuries to multiple devotees, participating in the annual sojourn of Lord Jagannath, His elder brother, Lord Balabhadra and younger sister, Devi Subhadra.
At around 5:30 in the evening, when devotees were pulling the Taladhwaja Chariot of Lord Balabhadra towards Saradhabali, a devotee collapsed due to suffocation in the heavy crowd near Marichikote Chhak.
The devotee was rescued and admitted to Puri District HQ Hospital. However, the doctors declared him brought dead. The identity of the deceased was not known immediately.
After the incident, the district administration quickly mobilised emergency services and provided medical aid to the injured in the nearby hospital.
Also Read: Odisha CM Announces Ex-gratia
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the next kin of the deceased who died during chariot pulling in Puri and free treatment for injured devotees.
CM Majhi expressed deep grief over the death of a devotee named Lalitha Bagarti of Saintala block in Balangir district due to the crowd during the procession today and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.
The Chief Minister has announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ordered for best medical treatment for the injured persons.
Also Read: DEVOTEE DIES UNDER CHARIOT WHEELS DURING RATH YATRA IN JHARSUGUDA
