What was supposed to be a grand spiritual celebration in Puri turned tense on Friday, June 27, as over 600 devotees fell ill during the iconic Rath Yatra due to unbearable heat and overcrowding
According to Chief District Medical Officer Dr. Kishore Satapathy, many devotees suffered from vomiting, fainting spells, and minor injuries. While most were treated and discharged quickly, around 70 people remain hospitalized, with 9 reported in critical condition.
“Fortunately, no lives have been lost,” confirmed Dr. Satapathy.
Heatwave & Overcrowding Blamed
Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling cited the hot and humid weather as a major reason behind the sudden spike in health issues.
The situation worsened in the Balagandi area when Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, got stuck for over an hour, causing a bottleneck and stampede-like congestion. Many people were injured while attempting to escape the packed area.
Quick action by volunteers and medical teams from both government and private organizations enabled the prompt transportation of the injured to nearby hospitals.
Yatra to Resume Today
Due to the delay, all three holy chariots failed to arrive at the Gundicha Temple on Friday.
But devotees need not worry — the pulling of the chariots will continue today, as is often the case when such large-scale delays occur.
“There’s nothing unusual. All rituals were conducted on time, and there were no serious mishaps,” said Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan.
At last update:
Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja is halted at Balagandi Chhak
Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalan is at Marichkote
Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh was only symbolically pulled and remains near the main temple
Over 1 Million Devotees Flooded Puri
As per officials, an estimated 10 lakh devotees gathered in Puri for this year’s Rath Yatra, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the country.
Despite the health scares and chariot delays, the devotional spirit remains high, and Puri gears up for Day 2 of the Yatra with hopes of smooth proceedings.