Two killed as crowd surges during rain-hit Puri Rath Yatra.
Many devotees fell ill due to continuous rain and weather-related conditions during the Rath Yatra in Puri.
- Two devotees died during the Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri.
- Seven people fell ill and were rushed to hospital without delay.
- Officials reported fatigue, dehydration, suffocation and rain-related discomfort.
- The state government said there was no stampede or systemic collapse in crowd management.
- Around eight to nine lakh devotees attended the festival.
- Opposition leaders demanded stronger safety measures and accountability.
Puri’s Rath Yatra celebrations, usually a scene of devotion and joy, turned tragic on Thursday as two devotees died and several others fell ill amid a temporary crowd surge and uncomfortable weather conditions in the rain-soaked temple town. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, seven people became unwell during the festival and were taken to hospital promptly, while many others were treated for rain-related illness and discharged later.
The state government said one male devotee, aged over 60, died after falling ill, though the exact cause is still being examined by authorities. In a separate incident, another devotee, a man above 35, suffered a cardiac arrest and died despite immediate medical intervention.
Officials said the situation was complicated by relentless rain and the sheer size of the crowd. Fatigue, dehydration, suffocation and other minor health issues were reported through the day, especially along the Grand Road, or Bada Danda, where the chariots make their way toward the Shree Gundicha Temple. Fire Services Inspector General Umashaknar Dash said rescuers had already taken nearly 100 people who felt suffocated to temporary hospitals and ambulances, offering some relief to distressed devotees.
The government, however, insisted that the festival remained peaceful and orderly overall. It denied that there had been any stampede or any major breakdown in crowd management. Officials said the combined efforts of the administration, police, servitors and volunteers helped keep the flow of devotees moving and ensured that essential services continued without interruption throughout the day.
The scale of the gathering itself was extraordinary. The Chief Minister’s Office said around eight to nine lakh devotees from different parts of the country and even from abroad took part in the annual Rath Yatra. With such a massive turnout, even brief congestion or weather-related discomfort could quickly turn serious, especially for elderly devotees and those already weakened by heat, rain or fatigue.
Political reactions followed soon after the deaths were reported. the recovery of the injured. He also urged his party workers to extend full cooperation in helping affected devotees and said the state government must do more to ensure safety and convenience at the festival.
State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das also criticised the government, saying the administration must be held responsible and warning that such incidents should not be repeated in the future. The criticism reflected the larger concern now being raised by many observers: whether crowd management and emergency preparedness were adequate for a gathering of this scale.
The tragedy has left a solemn note on one of Odisha’s most important religious events, even as the administration maintains that the overall festival remained under control.