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Puri, Odisha: A tragic incident cast a shadow over the grand Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 on Thursday after a devotee allegedly died and several others were feared injured amid heavy crowding on the Bada Danda in Puri, where lakhs of devotees had gathered to witness the annual chariot procession.
According to preliminary reports, the devotee reportedly became unconscious after experiencing suffocation while waiting to witness the pulling of the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
The devotee was immediately rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for emergency treatment. However, doctors reportedly declared the individual dead on arrival. The identity of the deceased has not yet been officially disclosed.
Several other devotees who reportedly sustained injuries or experienced health-related complications during the crowd movement were provided immediate medical assistance by emergency response teams deployed along the Rath Yatra route. Their condition is yet to be officially updated.
Police personnel, disaster response teams and medical officials stationed across the festival route responded swiftly and are monitoring the situation. Authorities have intensified crowd management measures to ensure the safety of devotees and facilitate medical assistance wherever required.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact circumstances that led to the incident, and further details are awaited.
The unfortunate incident occurred as lakhs of devotees from across the country assembled in Puri to witness the sacred journey of the Holy Trinity from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Despite intermittent heavy rainfall, devotees continued to participate in one of the world’s largest and most revered religious gatherings.
Further official updates are awaited.
