Daijiworld Media Network - Puri

Puri, Jul 16: A 60-year-old man died and several others were injured following a crowd surge during the annual Rath Yatra celebrations in Odisha's Puri on Thursday.

According to officials, seven people complained of uneasiness during the festivities and were immediately shifted to a hospital. One of them, a 60-year-old man, died while undergoing treatment. The exact cause of his death is yet to be ascertained.

Thousands of devotees had gathered in Puri to witness the centuries-old Rath Yatra, the only occasion each year when the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are taken out of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in a grand procession.

Despite heavy rainfall, devotees continued to participate in the celebrations, dancing along the Grand Road and taking part in the chariot festival.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Puri has received 233 mm of rainfall since Tuesday, and the coastal pilgrim town is expected to receive light to moderate rain during the day.

Earlier on Thursday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the arrangements for the festival and directed officials to ensure the safety and convenience of devotees.

With waterlogging emerging as a major concern due to continuous rain, the chief minister instructed the Puri district administration, municipal authorities and other departments to remain on high alert and take immediate measures to clear accumulated water.

Authorities had put in place extensive security arrangements for the festival, deploying 19 IPS officers and nearly 13,000 police personnel across the town.

Fifteen companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other security units, were stationed at strategic locations.

Officials said 473 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, integrated with drone-jamming systems, were monitoring the Grand Road and surrounding areas through two command-and-control centres to ensure security during the festival.