1 Dead, Nearly 100 Injured in Crush at India Chariot Festival
A crowd surge at India's Rath Yatra festival in Odisha left one dead and many injured. The centuries-old religious procession drew tens of thousands.
POLICY WIRE — Puri, India — A sudden crowd surge at the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival in Puri, Odisha, resulted in one fatality and nearly 100 injuries on Thursday, according to the Press Trust of India.
The incident occurred as tens of thousands of devotees gathered in the coastal town for the centuries-old Hindu festival, one of the world’s largest religious processions. The festival involves the transportation of idols of Hindu deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra on grand chariots through the streets.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the surge. Local media reported that the crush happened near the Gundicha Temple, a key destination in the festival route.
Emergency services were promptly deployed to the scene, — and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals. The deceased has been identified, though their name hasn’t been released to the public pending family notification.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, attracts millions of pilgrims annually. This year’s event saw an unprecedented number of attendees, exacerbating crowd control challenges.
In response to the incident, local officials have announced a review of safety measures for future festivals. The festival, which concludes after a nine-day procession, continues under heightened security.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
