At least two people died and over 130 were injured in separate incidents during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri. While a resident died due to suffocation, another person died after coming under the wheels of a chariot during Rath Yatra in Jharsuguda district on Sunday.
Expressing grief over the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. He also instructed officials to ensure the best available medical care for the injured devotees.
More than 130 people, including a few police personnel, were injured during the Rath Yatra in Puri, a health officer of Puri district told news agency PTI. While half of the injured were discharged after treatment on the same day, at least 40 individuals are still undergoing treatment. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and provide necessary medical assistance to those affected.
More than 600 people have visited hospitals and medical camps in Puri. However, only over 130 have been admitted to hospital, said Director of Health Services, Bijay Mohapatra.
“Such admission in hospital during Rath Yatra is normal. None of the injured is in very serious condition. We are providing treatment to the injured devotees,” he said.
After visiting the hospital on Sunday night, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said, “One person died while many others were admitted after sustaining injuries in stampede, dehydration, dysentery and other reasons. No one is serious.” As hot and humid weather was prevailing in Puri on Sunday, many people suffered in the hot weather condition also, he said.
The doctors and other medical staff along with volunteers have performed an excellent job, said the minister, adding, “We hope that the injured people will be discharged from the hospital by Monday evening.” Meanwhile, the pulling of chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings—Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra resumed on Monday around 9.30 am.
Tight security arrangements have been put in place, with the deployment of 180 platoons (one platoon comprises 30 personnel) of security personnel, a police officer said.
Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV cameras have been installed at Badadanda, the venue of the festival, and other strategic locations in the pilgrim town, he said.
Overall, 46 fire tenders were deployed in various parts of the town and along the sea beach for the Rath Yatra, said DG, Fire Services, Sudhanshu Sarangi.
(With agency inputs)