People Suffocate & Faint at Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri, Rushed to Hospital
The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, a significant Hindu festival celebrated in Odisha’s Puri, took a worrying turn when several devotees reported feeling suffocated and fell unconscious during the procession. The incident occurred due to high humidity, causing some devotees to collapse, and they were immediately rushed to the hospital.
As per reports, several people, including men and women, were seen gasping for breath and stumbling around the procession route. The situation was chaotic, with devotees attempting to help those who were struggling to breathe. The rescue teams, comprising of medical professionals and emergency responders, were quick to respond to the situation and took the affected devotees to the hospital immediately.
A video clip shared on social media shows ambulances arriving at the incident spot, with devotees making way for them to cross. The clip also shows rescue teams helping the affected devotees, some of whom were lying on the ground, struggling to breathe.
The incident was confirmed by Odisha’s State Minister, Mukesh Mahaling, who said that “due to high humidity, one or two devotees collapsed. The rescue teams took them to the hospital immediately.” The minister’s statement suggests that the authorities were well-prepared to handle the situation and ensured that those affected received medical attention promptly.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a significant festival in Hinduism, celebrated annually in Puri, Odisha. The festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, who are the presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The festival attracts millions of devotees from across the country and abroad, who come to pay their respects to the deities and participate in the festivities.
This year’s festival was no exception, with thousands of devotees converging on the streets of Puri to witness the grand procession. The festival began with the procession of the three deities, who were decorated with elaborate costumes and ornaments. The devotees, dressed in their finest attire, participated in the procession, singing bhajans (devotional songs) and dancing to the beat of the drums.
However, the high humidity, which is a common phenomenon in Odisha during the summer months, seemed to have taken a toll on the devotees. The heat and humidity, coupled with the crowds and the fervor of the festival, created a perfect storm that led to the collapse of some devotees.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of taking care of one’s health, especially during periods of extreme weather conditions. It also highlights the need for authorities to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the devotees who come to participate in such festivals.
In conclusion, while the incident at the Jagannath Rath Yatra was worrying, it was also a testament to the quick response of the rescue teams and the authorities, who ensured that those affected received medical attention promptly. The festival, despite the challenges, continued to unfold with the same enthusiasm and fervor, a testament to the devotion and faith of the millions of devotees who come to Puri every year to pay their respects to the deities.
