Bhubaneswar, July 16 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday expressed deep grief over the death of two devotees during the sacred Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Devi Subhadra in Puri.

According to the official X handle of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Chief Minister said one elderly devotee passed away while undergoing treatment after experiencing suffocation due to the heavy crowd, and another devotee died while under treatment following a cardiac arrest in a separate incident.

Majhi conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.

He said the administration took immediate action to provide medical assistance to other devotees who fell ill, admitting them to hospitals and ensuring they received the best possible treatment.

The Chief Minister also wished the ailing devotees a speedy recovery and directed the administration to ensure proper medical care and extend all necessary assistance to them. He stated that the situation in Puri is currently completely normal and in order.

The State Government, he added, remains committed to serving devotees with dedication and is continuously working to ensure their safety, security, and well‑being.

Reacting to the incident, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress on Thursday criticised the state government over the death of the two devotees during the Rath Yatra.

Meanwhile, the state government, in an earlier statement, denied allegations of a stampede during the Rath Yatra, asserting that the situation remained normal throughout the festival, with all essential services functioning effectively.

Chief Minister Majhi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the servitors and thanked the lakhs of devotees for their patience, discipline, and cooperation, which greatly contributed to the peaceful and successful celebration of the festival.

Official sources stated that the holy town of Puri witnessed the footfall of around 12 lakh devotees during the annual Rath Yatra festival on Thursday.

As the chariots of the holy siblings, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, failed to reach their destination, the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km from the 12th‑century shrine, devotees will resume pulling the chariots on Friday morning.

–IANS

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