The annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, witnessed a challenging situation on Friday, June 27, 2025, as extreme heat and overcrowding led to more than 600 devotees falling ill and many sustaining injuries. The surge occurred during the chariot-pulling ceremony on the Grand Road in front of the Jagannath Temple, particularly as devotees rushed to pull the Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra.
The overcrowding and intense heat caused many devotees to experience vomiting, fainting, and minor injuries. According to Dr. Kishore Satapathy, Puri's Chief District Medical Officer, most individuals received preliminary treatment at outpatient departments and were subsequently discharged. However, around 70 people required ongoing treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital, with nine reported to be in critical condition.
Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling attributed the health issues to the hot and humid weather. Sources indicated that a significant number of injuries occurred near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra's chariot was held up for over an hour. This delay resulted in a dense buildup of people, leading to individuals getting trapped and injured while attempting to escape the congested area.
In response to the emergency, the Odisha Health Department collaborated with private hospitals to deploy free emergency care services. Temporary primary health centers were established at strategic locations, including the northern gate of Srimandir, near the Gundicha Temple, and the Puri bus stand. Super-speciality hospitals like Hi-Tech Medical College also joined the effort to provide on-site critical care. These emergency units catered to devotees, temple servitors, and officials involved in the festival. Many affected individuals were admitted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital and the temporary Hi-Tech Medical Centre near Srimandir, with these facilities remaining operational until the Niladri Bije ritual to ensure continuous healthcare coverage.
Volunteers from both government and private organizations assisted in transporting the injured to hospitals. Minister Mukesh Mahaling highlighted the preparations made to ensure medical support, noting that rescue teams responded quickly to assist those who collapsed due to the weather conditions.
Despite the large number of people affected, authorities confirmed that there were no casualties. The incident has raised concerns about crowd control measures during the Rath Yatra, particularly with the swelling number of attendees. The situation also underscores the challenges of managing mass pilgrimages and the importance of swift mobilization of essential services.
Lord Jagannath's devotees will have another opportunity to pull the chariots as they did not reach their destination on Friday. The Taladhwaja chariot became stuck while negotiating a turn, causing delays that prevented the others from arriving at the Gundicha Temple, located 2.6km from the 12th-century shrine. Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated that it is not unusual for chariots to be pulled on the following day and that all rituals were conducted on time, with no accidents or untoward incidents.
