One devotee died and around 100 others were injured after a stampede-like situation broke out during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on Thursday, casting a shadow over one of India's largest religious gatherings.
The incident took place on the Bada Danda (Grand Road), where lakhs of devotees had assembled to witness the procession and pulling of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
According to preliminary information, a devotee who experienced severe breathing difficulties amid the massive crowd was rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared the person dead.
Officials said nearly 100 devotees sustained injuries or suffered health complications, with around 50 people admitted to hospitals for treatment. Visuals from the scene showed injured devotees being shifted to hospitals as slippers, bags and other personal belongings remained scattered across the road, highlighting the chaos that followed the incident.
Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the exact cause of the stampede-like situation. An assessment is underway, and further details are awaited.
Reacting to the tragedy, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the loss of life and called for better crowd management during the festival.
"I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of lives among devotees in the stampede at Badadanda during Rath Yatra. I pray for the eternal peace of the souls of the devotees who have lost their lives and for the swift recovery of the more than a hundred injured devotees."
He further said:"I hope that the state government will ensure the convenience and safety of the devotees by properly managing the crowds."
The Jagannath Rath Yatra attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across India and abroad every year and is regarded as one of the country's biggest religious congregations.
The latest incident has also revived memories of last year's Rath Yatra tragedy in Puri, when a stampede caused by alleged crowd mismanagement, infrastructure shortcomings and logistical failures claimed three lives and left more than 50 devotees injured, raising fresh concerns over crowd control and safety arrangements at the annual festival.
