One Devotee Reportedly Dies During Crowd Surge in Puri Rath Yatra; Odisha Govt Denies Stampede

Bhubaneswar: One devotee died during the Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri on Wednesday, while several others fell ill during a reported crowd surge.

According to reports, a temporary crowd surge caused several devotees to become unwell. They were immediately shifted to hospital, where one man, aged over 60, later died. Authorities said the exact cause of his death is yet to be determined.

The Odisha government, however, clarified that no stampede occurred during the Rath Yatra, maintaining that the overall situation remained under control and adequate crowd management measures were in place. Several other devotees who fell ill during the day were also treated at the district headquarters hospital.

Officials appealed to devotees to remain calm, follow instructions issued by the police and district administration, and avoid spreading or believing unverified information.

Meanwhile, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleged that one devotee died due to a stampede and several others were injured. BJD media coordinator Lenin Mohanty expressed grief over the incident and urged the state government to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured and extend all necessary assistance to the affected families.