A crowd surge during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, triggers a stampede-like situation on the Grand Road (Bada Danda). Reports from multiple outlets say the incident occurs as the huge gathering makes way for an ambulance near Marichikote Chowk / in the Marichikote area. In the initial reports, between 120 and 200 devotees are hospitalised or require treatment. Several accounts describe breathing difficulties among attendees due to the heavy crowd, with emergency teams and Special Rescue Unit (SRU) personnel conducting rescues and moving people to Puri Medical.
Casualty figures vary across sources: one outlet reports one death, while another reports two deaths. As of the coverage cited, officials have not issued a single confirmed death toll in all reports, and authorities are described as monitoring the situation and strengthening crowd management and emergency response measures. The incident remains associated with the Rath Yatra procession and the rush of devotees in the main thoroughfare, with responders focusing on immediate rescue and hospital care for injured and affected pilgrims.
