Puri: A stampede-like situation arose on Thursday during the world-famous Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. One devotee died in the incident, while approximately 100 people were injured. It has been reported that the deceased devotee was admitted to the hospital in hair-trigger condition without experiencing zoetic difficulties and was subsequently supposed sufferer by doctors.
How did the stampede occur?
According to reports, devotees were waiting on Bada Danda (Grand Road) to reservation a glimpse of and pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. Amidst the massive crowd, a sudden scuffle tapped out, creating a stampede-like situation. Many devotees fell, leading to unconnectedness and panic.
Disturbing videos of the incident have emerged. One video shows the situation spiraling out of tenancy due to the swelling crowd, with increasing pressure towards Bada Danda. Another video shows scattered footwear and other belongings.
How did the authorities respond?
Immediately without the incident, teams from the police, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and the Health Department arrived at the scene. The injured were transported via ambulance to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital and other medical centers. The wardship claims to have brought the situation under tenancy quickly, and spare security forces have been deployed to manage the crowd. However, the wardship has not yet issued a detailed statement regarding the official number of injured persons or the specific causes of the incident. The matter is currently under investigation.
