• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Devotee died during Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha.
  2. Suffocation death reported amidst crowd surge at Yatra.
  3. Stampede-like situation led to tragedy during Puri Yatra.

Puri Rath Yatra: In a tragic incident, two devotees died of suffocation while over 150 were injured after a crowd surge caused a stampede-like situation near Marichikot Chowk during Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri. 

According to the information, devotees fell and became critical due to suffocation. They were immediately rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared them dead after examination. Chaos ensued at the scene following the stampede-like incident.

Several of the devotees were rescued on stretchers at the Singhadwara of the Puri Jagannath temple for the Rath Yatra as the crowd swelled unprecedentedly. A team of NDRF, deployed as part of precautionary measures, engaged in the rescue and evacuation efforts.

The administration quickly brought the situation under control. According to news agency PTI, nearly two lakh devotees have gathered at the Jagannath Temple to take part in the grand chariot festival despite rains.

Naveen Patnaik expresses grief

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the loss of lives and wished for speedy recovery of the injured.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of devotees in the stampede at Badadanda during the Rath Yatra. I pray for the peace of the souls of the devotees who lost their lives and for the speedy recovery of the more than 100 injured devotees. In this hour of grief, all Biju Janata Dal workers will extend their full support and provide any possible assistance. I hope the state government will ensure the convenience and safety of devotees by properly managing the crowds," Patnaik posted on X.

ALSO READ: Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026 Begins: Very Heavy Rain Likely In Puri Till July 17; Check IMD's Odisha Forecast

The Rath Yatra began today and will continue for 12 days before concluding on July 27 at Niladri Bije. 

Puri weather

The procession started amid rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that Puri is expected to witness heavy downpour throughout the day. The weather department said that a strengthening low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal will lead to heavy rainfall in the eastern states.

The system is likely to move towards North Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal over the next two days, the weather department added.

ALSO READ: Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026: Why Does Lord Jagannath Stay At Gundicha Temple For Seven Days?

As rainfall is expected to affect the yatra, the Puri administration assured that the necessary arrangements have been made.

In an advisory, IMD stated that several Odisha districts are expected to witness extremely heavy rain in the coming days. The rains are also likely to be accompanied by thunderstorms, gusty winds, and lightning. The pilgrims have been advised to follow the guidelines and to limit their outings during the rain to avoid any inconveniences.


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