2 dead, 78 in hospital after rath yatra crowd surge in Puri
Two devotees died and 78 were hospitalized following a crowd surge during the Rath Yatra festival in Puri, India. While witnesses reported a stampede, government officials denied a systemic breakdown and attributed the deaths to other causes.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns about crowd management and safety protocols during massive religious gatherings.
Puri: At least two people died and 78 others were hospitalised as a sea of devotees jostled for space amid blinding rain during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri on Thursday, forcing authorities to suspend the annual chariot-pulling ceremony for the night.Hospital officials said Anil Das of Cuttack and another devotee, identified by Puri district hospital as Surya Prakash Rao from Andhra Pradesh, could not be saved, despite best efforts.At least 400 people fainted during the yatra that saw nearly 9 lakh people converge at the temple city from various states and abroad for the nine-day festival.Witnesses said devotees jumped over one another to catch a glimpse of Lord Jagannath’s idol, which was being ceremonially carried from the shrine to the chariot around 1 pm at Marchikota Chowk, leaving many injured.Ambulances were seen ferrying in many of the injured to emergency wards from late afternoon.“We received at least 19 devotees,…
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