Rath Yatra: Over 500 devotees injured due to overcrowding in Odisha's Puri, many fell ill amid intense heat

Over 500 people attending the annual Rath Yatra festival in Odisha’s Puri were injured as crowds surged to pull the chariots as part of an age-old tradition. Many injuries were also caused by heat and humidity, health officials have said.

The injured devotees were taken to nearby hospitals in ambulances that were already on standby near Lord Jagannath Temple. No casualties have been reported so far. The Rath Yatra festival was celebrated across the country on Friday.

#WATCH | Devotees gather to witness and be a part of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which began yesterday, in Odisha's Puri. pic.twitter.com/giE2gnIIXu

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025

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Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, “One or two devotees collapsed due to the weather conditions, but rescue teams responded quickly and took them to the hospital.” The minister added that the government is ensuring that the affected people receive proper treatment.

Much of the chaos unfolded near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour. The prolonged stoppage led to heavy crowding, trapping several devotees, some of whom were injured while attempting to escape the congestion.

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Authorities attributed the delay to difficulties in manoeuvring the chariot at a critical turn, which slowed the procession and intensified the congestion. The situation worsened as a surge of devotees entered restricted areas, further hindering the chariot’s movement.

#WATCH | Puri, Odisha | Ambulances reached the Rath Yatra spot after some people complained of suffocation and were reported unconscious due to humidity.

The affected people were taken to the hospital and were provided with the required medical assistance https://t.co/Fie3j5sA03 pic.twitter.com/JYIkSUi7jj

— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2025

While thousands of people pulled the chariots, lakhs of others also reached the seaside temple town to participate in the festival. An estimated one million devotees gathered in Puri for the annual Rath Yatra, officials said.

Meanwhile, Lord Jagannath devotees will get another chance to pull the chariots on Saturday as none of them reached their destination on Friday after Balabhadra’s Taladwaja chariot got stuck.

With inputs from agencies