Puri: A stampede-like situation during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha‘s Puri left two people dead and nearly 100 others hospitalised on Thursday after a heavy surge of devotees near the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple.

The incident triggered panic among thousands of pilgrims who had gathered to witness one of India’s largest and oldest religious festivals. Rescue teams and security personnel rushed to the spot to evacuate the injured and restore order.

Crowd surge leads to casualties

According to preliminary reports, the stampede-like situation occurred after a large number of devotees converged near the Singhadwara, one of the main entrances to the Jagannath Temple, during the Rath Yatra.

The sudden crowd pressure resulted in several pilgrims collapsing, prompting emergency rescue operations.

Officials said two devotees lost their lives, while nearly 100 others were shifted to nearby hospitals after sustaining injuries or experiencing health complications due to the overcrowding.

The exact circumstances leading to the crowd surge are being examined.

Rescue teams respond swiftly

Emergency response teams and security personnel immediately launched rescue operations after the incident.

Several injured devotees were evacuated on stretchers and provided first aid before being transported to hospitals for further treatment.

Authorities worked to disperse the crowd and regulate the movement of pilgrims around the three chariots to prevent further incidents.

Medical teams remained stationed at key locations along the Grand Road to attend to devotees requiring assistance.

Lakhs participate in Rath Yatra

Despite the incident, lakhs of devotees continued to participate in the world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra, lining the Grand Road (Badadanda) to witness the annual procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.

The deities began their ceremonial journey from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, a tradition observed annually with immense religious significance.

Thousands waited for a glimpse of the deities as the elaborate rituals unfolded amid tight security arrangements.

Traditional rituals performed

The day’s ceremonies began with the Pahandi ritual, during which the deities were ceremonially brought out of the sanctum sanctorum.

Following long-standing tradition, Lord Sudarshan was taken out first, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and finally Lord Jagannath.

Before being placed on their respective chariots, the deities performed the customary parikrama of the three newly constructed wooden chariots:

  • Nandighosha (Lord Jagannath)
  • Taladhwaja (Lord Balabhadra)
  • Darpadalana (Devi Subhadra)

The deities were then seated on their thrones in the ritual known as Ratha Bije, marking the commencement of the annual chariot festival.

Royal rituals and prayers

The Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peetha, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, visited the chariots along with his disciples and offered special prayers before the procession commenced.

Another significant ritual, Chhera Pahanra, was performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular King of Puri.

Arriving in a ceremonial palanquin, the king swept the platforms of all three chariots with a golden-handled broom and sprinkled fragrant holy water, symbolising humility and equality before the Almighty.

Following the completion of the royal rituals and the attachment of the wooden horses to the chariots, devotees began pulling the massive chariots at around 2 pm, continuing the centuries-old tradition.

Authorities monitor situation

Authorities continued monitoring the situation throughout the day, with security personnel deployed across the festival route to regulate crowds and assist devotees.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over crowd management at the annual pilgrimage, especially given the large turnout of devotees from across the country and abroad.

Officials are expected to review the circumstances that led to the crowd surge while continuing efforts to ensure the safe conduct of the remaining Rath Yatra festivities.