A stampede-like incident occurred during the ‘Chariot Festival’ celebrations in the eastern Indian city of Puri on the 16th, resulting in at least 2 deaths and 100 injuries.
Thousands of devotees had flocked to the Jagannath Temple in Odisha state to participate in the annual event.
Indian media reported that near the Marichikote Square in front of the temple, chaos erupted when devotees made way for an ambulance moving through the crowd, leading to a stampede-like situation.
The Odisha Chief Minister’s Office, while confirming 2 deaths, stated: “Throughout the festival, order on-site was maintained and management was appropriate. No stampede occurred, and there was no systemic breakdown in crowd management.”
The ‘Chariot Festival’ is one of the largest and most revered festivals in India. Last year, a stampede during the festival also resulted in 3 deaths.