A male devotee died after experiencing breathing difficulties during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri on Wednesday as heavy crowding created panic-like conditions. Officials clarified that there was no stampede, stating that the devotee died due to suffocation caused by a sudden surge in the crowd.
Millions of devotees across India are celebrating the Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of Hinduism's most revered festivals. The grand procession began in Puri, Odisha, with the traditional Pahandi ritual, during which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were ceremonially brought out of the temple and placed on their elaborately decorated wooden chariots.
