At least 33 devotees were rescued and shifted to hospital after a crowd crush-like situation was reported near the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri on Thursday, as lakhs of pilgrims gathered for the festival, reported ANI.Visuals from the District Headquarters Hospital in Puri showed several devotees being brought in on stretchers after being rescued from the congested area. Separate visuals also showed security personnel carrying injured and unwell devotees away from the crowd and rushing them for medical attention.According to the Odisha Police, the Special Rescue Unit (SRU) of the Odisha Fire & Emergency Services carried out rescue operations after heavy crowd congestion was reported.In a post on X, the Odisha Police said, "The Special Rescue Unit (SRU) of the Odisha Fire & Emergency Services has safely rescued 33 devotees from heavy crowd congestion since this morning. The rescued devotees were immediately provided with first aid and oxygen support before being shifted to nearby hospitals for further medical care."The incident occurred as lakhs of devotees assembled along the Grand Road (Badadanda) to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
Puri Rath Yatra Stampede: 33 devotees rescued after crowd congestion near Jagannath Temple, shifted to hospital
Amidst alarming crowd congestion, emergency personnel sprang into action, evacuating devotees via stretchers to local hospitals for treatment. Visual evidence captured by onlookers depicted the rescued individuals receiving care at the District Headquarters Hospital in Puri. The Special Rescue Unit of Odisha Fire & Emergency Services operated tirelessly, managing to rescue thirty-three individuals by offering first aid and oxygen prior to their hospital transfers.
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