Puri Rath Yatra: Over 600 people fall ill due to overcrowding amid pilgrims' rush, several hospitalised

Thousands of devotees thronged Puri during the Rath Yatra. (Image: PTI)

Over 600 people fell ill while many had to be admitted to hospitals due to sweltering heat and overcrowding during Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, on Friday, officials said.

According to Puri Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr. Kishore Satapathy, several people reported minor injuries, vomiting, and fainting — primarily due to overcrowded conditions, PTI reported.

"Most of them were discharged after receiving preliminary treatment at OPDs. There were no casualties," he added. Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the primary cause of illness among devotees was extreme heat and humid conditions.

Around 70 people were undergoing treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital in Puri, with nine reported to be in critical condition, an official said.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took to X and said, "We aren’t here to point fingers or blame the administration for yesterday’s inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot. But it’s impossible not to voice our deep concern and anguish over how things unfolded during the most sacred event in our State."

We aren’t here to point fingers or blame the administration for yesterday’s inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot. But it’s impossible not to voice our deep concern and anguish over how things unfolded during the most sacred event in our State.

It’s hard to forget… pic.twitter.com/VWZ6wvYaZV

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 28, 2025

Meanwhile, sources claimed that a number of people were injured near Balagandi area where Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, remained stuck for over an hour.

"The prolonged halt led to a dense buildup of crowd, resulting in several people getting trapped and sustained injuries while trying to get out of the congested area," an official said.

The injured were promptly shifted to hospitals with assistance of volunteers from government agencies and private organisations.

(With inputs from PTI)