Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep grief over the deaths of two devotees who fell ill during the Puri Rath Yatra 2026 on Thursday. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for devotees undergoing treatment and announced that financial assistance would be extended to the families of the deceased.The tragic incident occurred amid the massive gathering of devotees who had assembled to witness the annual chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.Senior Officials Visit Puri DHH.Following the incident, Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling visited the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) on Thursday evening to assess the situation.Speaking to reporters, the officials said six to seven devotees were brought to the hospital after experiencing sudden health complications during the festival.Among them, a 60-year-old devotee died after reportedly suffering breathing difficulties. Another 35-year-old man also died after a suspected cardiac arrest. Officials said the exact cause of both deaths would be confirmed after the post-mortem examination and the police investigation.Financial Assistance for Families.Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the state government would provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased after discussions with the Chief Minister.He added that the government was closely monitoring the condition of devotees who remained under treatment and had directed hospitals to provide all necessary medical support.Government Rules Out Stampede.The Odisha government clarified that no stampede occurred during the Rath Yatra.Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said several devotees experienced suffocation due to the heavy crowd, and they were immediately shifted to hospital for treatment.He stated that while one elderly devotee died after experiencing breathing difficulties, the second death appeared to be unrelated to the crowd and was suspected to have been caused by a heart attack. However, he noted that the exact cause would be determined through the post-mortem report and the police investigation.Administration Defends Crowd ManagementChief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra also said there was no crowd management failure during the festival.He stated that seven devotees experienced breathing difficulties in the large gathering and were promptly taken to hospital by emergency teams. According to Mishra, all but one of the affected devotees received treatment and recovered.The state government reiterated that medical teams, police personnel and emergency response units remained deployed throughout the festival to ensure the safety and well-being of devotees.
July 17, 2026
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