Two women killed in Puri Rath Yatra stampede

The stampede took place near Mirichakut square when the three giant size chariots were rolling out on the Bada Danda or the Grand Road.

More than 300 passenger buses from across the State have been issued special permits to Puri by Regional Transport Office (RTO)- I, Bhubaneswar for Rath Yatra. They were later shifted to Cuttack as their condition became critical. By and large, the Nabakalebara Rath Yatra could be termed as successful although there has been a disputed over the exact number of devotees in Puri today.

District headquarter hospital sources said 123 persons had been admitted in the hospital’s trauma care centre following various kinds of complaints, including breathlessness.

Devotees from all walks of life made a beeline to the town since Friday for the world famous annual festival of chariots to catch a glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Sri Jagannath. “Precautions have been taken to avoid any stampede like situation”.

The Chariot of Lord Jagannath rolled out on the roads this morning from the over 400-year old temple in Jamalpur area here and will travel along a 14-km-route across the city, where lakhs of devotees will seek blessings. Eagerness and fervor ran high among devotees as the gods remained inside for 45 days this time because of Nabakalebara checking change of assemblages of the Lords, which occurred following a crevice of 19 years. As per the festival schedule, the deities would be escorted in Goti Pahandi into the sanctum sanctorum of Gundicha temple on Monday evening.

A host of VVIPs, including governor South Carolina Jamir and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik witnessed the mega event.

Besides Gajapati, Puri Gobardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Nischilanand Saraswati visits the chariots and has darshan of the deities.

The new embodiment of idols takes place in year which has got two months of Asadha (June-July) in Hindu calendar year.

Puri King Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb performed “Chhera Panhara” in front of all chariots. The new idols made their maiden public appearance on Saturday when they occupied the three chariots.