Stampede-like situation at Puri Jagannath temple; 2 devotees fall sick

Two devotees reportedly fell sick and unconscious following a stampede-like situation at Puri Jagannath temple on Sunday.

As per initial reports, there was a huge rush at the Jagannath temple in the early hours today to get darshan of the deities. As the ‘Dwara Phita’ rituals began much late today than the schedule owing to completion of Makar Sankranti rituals yesterday, the devotees were waiting to enter the temple since long in the morning hours.

As soon as the gates open, the devotees started running into the temple to get the darshan from Singhadwara.

One of the devotees, Sulochana Sahu, who got injured, said that she fell down and became unconscious during preparation of Mangala alati near Bhitara-katha. Sulochana Sahu and another devotee have been admitted to Puri hospital for necessary treatment. Another minor devotee, Dibya has been discharged from the hospital.

It is pertinent to mention here that one person died and as many as 20 suffered critical injuries in a stampede on the Gopinathpur-Badamba T Bridge in Athagarh, Cuttack on the occasion of Makar Mela on Saturday.

(Reported by Madhusudan Mishra)