Puri, July 4
Tragedy struck the annual rath yatra here with six persons being crushed to death and several others injured in a stampede as the idol of Subhadra was being brought out from the Lion’s gate of the 12th century Jagannath temple today.
As the idol of Subhadra was being taken out by the priests, women and children standing near the chariot were apparently pushed from behind by those accompanying the deity and fell down and were crushed, the police said.
“We have received six bodies so far. All victims are aged between 40 years and 50 years. They might have died due to stampede or suffocation,” Puri CMO Trilocan Baral said.
The festivities were delayed by 90 minutes because of drizzles with the deities taken from the sanctum sanctorum in a grand procession called ‘pahandi’ as 10 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad congregated in the holy city to watch the proceedings.
Hymns were sung and conch shells and trumpets blown as chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra rolled out on Grand Road heading for a nine-day sojourn at the Gundicha temple, their aunt’s abode.
The colourful wooden chariots, decorated with flowers, applique works and mural paintings, were pulled by devotees, amid tight security measures.
Before the chariots began rolling, the Gajapati king of Puri, Divya Singh Deva, swept the platform of the chariots with a golden broom, in a ritual called ‘Chera Panhara’.
— PTI
