The Jagannath Rath Yatra held on July 28 left over 600 devotees ill. According to reports, several participants required hospitalisation as their condition worsened while pulling the chariots.
Puri Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Kishore Satapathy confirmed the development, stating, “Many people reported minor injuries, vomiting, and fainting, mainly due to overcrowding in Puri on Friday during the Rath Yatra.”

He added, “Most were discharged after preliminary treatment at OPDs. There were no fatalities.”
According to PTI, a local official stationed in Puri during the yatra said that “a large number of injuries occurred in the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour. The obstruction led to intense crowding, and several individuals were hurt while attempting to move away from the congestion.”

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan also addressed the issue, saying, “There is no major concern. It’s not uncommon for chariot pulling to extend into the following day. All rituals were conducted as scheduled. There were no accidents or untoward events,” PTI reported.