two-killed-200-hospitalised-in-near-stampede-at-rath-yatra

A stampede-like situation during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri on Thursday left two people dead and more than 100 others hospitalised, leading to panic among devotees who had converged for the annual chariot festival.

 

Emergency rescue teams evacuated some people on stretchers after a heavy surge of pilgrims near the entry gate of the Jagannath temple. Security personnel and rescue teams rushed to assist the devotees and provided them medical help as the number of pilgrims continued to swell around the three sacred chariots with lakhs of devotees lining the Grand Road (Badadanda) to witness the Rath Yatra. Special Rescue Unit (SRU) rushed the devotees who fainted in the rush to Puri Medical College.

 

The authorities said they were closely monitoring the situation and had stepped up crowd management and emergency response measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims attending the annual festival. Heavy security arrangements have been put in place to manage the surge in footfall and ensure the smooth conduct of the annual religious procession.

 

Special arrangements have also been made to drain out rainwater from the Grand Road and facilitate a smooth procession as devotees pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra along the thoroughfare from the shrine to the Shree Gundicha Temple.

 

The stampede-like situation and heavy rain did not, however, dampen the spirit of devotees, who were seen dancing on the Grand Road and celebrating the chariot festival. According to weather officials, Puri received 233 mm of rainfall since Tuesday.  With waterlogging emerging as a major challenge, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the Puri district administration and municipal authorities to remain on high alert and ensure swift action to drain out water.

 

Additionally, 15 companies of central armed police forces have been stationed at strategic points as part of the security arrangements. A total of 473 AI-powered CCTV cameras integrated with drone-jamming systems are monitoring the Grand Road and adjoining areas through two command-and-control centres. Quick response teams and a joint patrolling system involving the Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Odisha Police Maritime Station has also been pressed into action.

 

Also read: 300 special trains for Jagannath Rath Yatra, Onam: Vaishnaw