Thousands of devotees thronged the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri today for Snana Purnima. The swelling crowd near the Ratha Khala turned restless after hours of waiting.
In a sudden surge, devotees broke through barricades and entered the restricted area close to the Snana Mandap.
Police tried to stop the rush, sparking scuffles with devotees. The heavy push caused several people to fall, while others sustained injuries after being trapped against the barricades. Rescue teams and volunteers quickly moved in, offering drinking water and shifting affected devotees to safer zones. Ambulances carried seriously injured people to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Extreme heat and overcrowding worsened the situation, leaving elderly people, women, and children gasping for breath. Volunteers worked tirelessly to provide relief.
Several devotees accused the police and district administration of poor crowd management. They claimed inadequate arrangements triggered the chaos. The incident highlighted the urgent need for stronger safety measures during Snana Purnima, one of Odisha’s most revered rituals.
The annual festival, marking the ceremonial bath of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, draws lakhs of devotees every year.
