Manish Kumar
Post News Network
Puri, July 18: The millennium’s first Nabakalebara festival which commenced amid fanfare and religious fervour in this pilgrim city was marred by the death of two women in a stampede Saturday. Ten others were also injured in the jostling, police said.
The stampede occurred during the pulling of the chariots of the deities – Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – between the Market and Balagandi Chhak here.
‘‘We came to know from hospital sources that a 60-year-old woman was killed while some have sustained serious injuries,’’ director general of police Sanjeev Marik told the media.
Later, police said another woman died in the incident. While one woman was killed near Balagandi when Lord Balabhadra chariot was passing through the area, another died in a similar incident near Marichkote chhak.
The police chief said two critically injured people were taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, while the others were taken to a hospital in Puri.
Amidst tight security cover, at least 15 lakh devotees of all age groups from across the country converged on the Grand Road of this city to witness the Nabakalebara and annual Rath Yatra which commenced here in the morning as chants of ‘Haribol’ and clanging of cymbals rented the air.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor SC Jamir also participated in the temple show and watched the procession through the gallery near the Srimandir. Patnaik later expressed sorrow over the mishap and said the injured would be given free treatment.
Temple administration and priests earlier expressed happiness over the timely conduct of rituals in the temple and other rituals on the raths. ‘‘It was a challenge for the temple to perform all rituals on time. However, we have played our responsibility well. We are happy with the overall functioning in the temple,’’ said Daitapati Ramkrushna Das Mahapatra. The police administration ensured that ample security arrangements were made to allay fears of lakhs of visitors who came for Rath Yatra.
The chariot of Balabhadra (Taladhwaj) reached Gundicha temple close to sunset. However, the chariot of Lord Jagannath (Nandighosh) halted at Balagandi and Devi Subhadra’s car Darpadalana at Medical Chhak. The two chariots will resume their journey Sunday.
Ramanuja Tridandi Devi Narayancharya from Vrindavan who had come to the festival said, ‘‘I’ve come to Puri earlier. Every Hindu knows Krishna’s leela. Our sriptures talk about the Lord. Hope, the god spreads peace and happiness among the people of the state.”
