Latest news with #RathYatrafestival
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
8 hours ago
- General
- First Post
Rath Yatra: Over 500 devotees injured due to overcrowding in Odisha's Puri, many fell ill amid intense heat
Much of the chaos unfolded near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour. The prolonged stoppage led to heavy crowding, trapping several devotees read more Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra at the Jagannath Temple, on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra festival, in Puri, Odisha, on Thursday. (Image: PTI) Over 500 people attending the annual Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri were injured as crowds surged to pull the chariots as part of an age-old tradition. Many injuries were also caused by heat and humidity, health officials have said. The injured devotees were taken to nearby hospitals in ambulances that were already on standby near Lord Jagannath Temple. No casualties have been reported so far. The Rath Yatra festival was celebrated across the country on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Devotees gather to witness and be a part of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which began yesterday, in Odisha's Puri. — ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025 Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, 'One or two devotees collapsed due to the weather conditions, but rescue teams responded quickly and took them to the hospital.' The minister added that the government is ensuring that the affected people receive proper treatment. Much of the chaos unfolded near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour. The prolonged stoppage led to heavy crowding, trapping several devotees, some of whom were injured while attempting to escape the congestion. Authorities attributed the delay to difficulties in manoeuvring the chariot at a critical turn, which slowed the procession and intensified the congestion. The situation worsened as a surge of devotees entered restricted areas, further hindering the chariot's movement. #WATCH | Puri, Odisha | Ambulances reached the Rath Yatra spot after some people complained of suffocation and were reported unconscious due to humidity. The affected people were taken to the hospital and were provided with the required medical assistance — ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While thousands of people pulled the chariots, lakhs of others also reached the seaside temple town to participate in the festival. An estimated one million devotees gathered in Puri for the annual Rath Yatra, officials said. Meanwhile, Lord Jagannath devotees will get another chance to pull the chariots on Saturday as none of them reached their destination on Friday after Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot got stuck. With inputs from agencies
Mint
19 hours ago
- Mint
Rath Yatra 2025: Over 500 devotees injured while pulling the Taladhwaja Chariot in Odisha's Puri
Rath Yatra 2025: Over 500 devotees were reportedly injured during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri, on Friday, June 27, after massive crowds surged forward to pull the chariot of Lord Balabhadra. According to a report by News 18, the injuries occurred during the ceremonial pulling of the Taladhwaja Chariot. Devotees rushed to grab the chariot's ropes leading to stampede-like situation, resulting in injuries to hundreds. At least eight are reported to be in critical condition, while several have been hospitalised. (This is a developing story. Keep checking for more updates)
News18
19 hours ago
- News18
Over 500 Devotees Injured, Several Critical After Overcrowding In Puri Rath Yatra
Last Updated: The incident occurred during the ceremonial pulling of the Taladhwaja chariot, one of the three grand chariots drawn as part of the centuries-old tradition. More than 550 devotees were injured during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri, after massive crowds surged forward to pull the chariot of Lord Balabhadra. The incident occurred during the ceremonial pulling of the Taladhwaja chariot, one of the three grand chariots drawn as part of the centuries-old tradition. The festival, which draws lakhs of devotees to the coastal pilgrim town, marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 2.5 kilometers away. The deities reside at the Gundicha Temple for a week before returning in a similar procession. As eager devotees rushed to grab the sacred ropes of the Taladhwaja chariot, overcrowding led to a chaotic stampede-like situation, resulting in injuries to hundreds. While most suffered minor injuries, several were hospitalized and at least eight are reported to be in critical condition. To manage the immense crowd and ensure security, nearly 10,000 personnel were deployed across the city, including eight companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
