Puri: Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has issued an important clarification regarding the deaths of devotees who fell unconscious during the Puri Rath Yatra. He stated that there was no stampede during the festival and confirmed that a 60-year-old devotee died due to suffocation. The minister added that another devotee is suspected to have died of a heart attack.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the tragic deaths and directed senior officials to ensure the best possible treatment for those who sustained injuries or fell ill during the event.
The Health Minister, accompanied by Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra, visited the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) to review the situation. He said compensation for the victims’ families would be announced after discussions with the Chief Minister.
Notably, lakhs of devotees have gathered in Puri for the sacred Rath Yatra. During the festival, several devotees fell unconscious near Marichikote Chhak. Rescue teams shifted them to the Puri hospital, where they were admitted for treatment.
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