During Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in Odisha, two different incidents resulted in at least two deaths and over 130 injuries on Sunday.
A health official said that a Bolangir resident died from suffocation during the Rath Yatra in Puri, describing the circumstances as similar to a stampede.
“When we put him in the ambulance, his pulse was running. We took him to the hospital, and gave him CPR. However, doctors declared him brought dead,” said Sushant Kumar Patnaik, assistant commandant of the St. John Ambulance Service.
Reportedly, the devotee fainted while dragging Lord Balabhadra’s chariot on Grand Road. He was taken to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital right away, where the doctor declared him brought dead.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi declared an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the deceased’s next of kin, expressing sorrow over his demise. He also gave the relevant officials instructions to make sure the injured devotees get the finest medical care possible.
In another incident, authorities in Jharsuguda district said that a devotee died after falling beneath a chariot’s wheels on Sunday during the Rath Yatra. The mishap happened while the district’s Kukujangha village was carrying the Jagannath temple’s chariot.
Shyam Sundar Kishan (45) has been identified as deceased. He accidentally fell while pulling the chariot, causing the wheels to run over him. He was taken to the district headquarters hospital immediately, where he died while receiving treatment.
During the Rath Yatra in Puri, more than 130 people were hurt, including a few law enforcement officials, according to the Puri district health officer. At least 40 people are receiving treatment, he added, and half of the injured people have been discharged from the hospital the same day after receiving treatment.
Director of Health Services Bijay Mohapatra stated that over 600 individuals have visited Puri’s medical camps and medical centres. However, only over 130 have been admitted to hospitals.
“Such admission to the hospital during the Rath Yatra is normal. None of the injured are in very serious condition. We are providing treatment to the injured devotees,” he said.
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