PURI: A 57-year-old devotee died and more than 100 others were injured during the Bahuda Yatra on Friday as over five lakh devotees converged on Puri to witness the return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Gundicha Temple to the Srimandir.
The deceased, identified as Abhiram Das of Cuttack, was pulling Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan chariot when he reportedly fell near Bagala Dharmashala amidst a crowd surge. Volunteers rushed him to the Bagala First Aid Centre before shifting him to the district headquarters hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
Puri police said Das was suffering from high blood pressure and fell sick near the Darpadalan chariot.
A near-stampede situation was reported near Badasankha during the pulling of Darpadalan. More than 100 devotees sustained injuries, while several others fainted due to suffocation amid the massive crowd. Volunteers and emergency personnel shifted the injured to the district headquarters hospital where they were undergoing treatment.
On the first day of Rath Yatra, two devotees had died in the crowd surge. The state government later announced ex gratia compensation for their families.
Despite the incidents, the Bahuda Yatra drew an unprecedented footfall with the Badadanda turning into a sea of humanity as devotees lined up both sides of the Grand Road to witness the ceremonial Pahandi and pull the three chariots.
Chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Haribol’, accompanied by the ululation of women devotees, echoed across the pilgrim town.
The deities will remain on their respective chariots until Niladri Bije on Monday when they re-enter the Srimandir. Suna Besha, during which the deities are adorned with gold ornaments, will be observed on Saturday, while Adharapana, the ritual offering of a special sweet drink, will be held on Sunday.
The weather remained dry throughout the day, enabling the smooth conduct of the festival. By the time of filing this report, the chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra had almost reached their designated positions in front of the Simhadwar of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
