Over 600 people fall ill during Puri Rath Yatra, many admitted to hospitals

Sun Jun 29 03:22:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summary suitable for The Hindu, focusing on the Odisha Rath Yatra incident:

**News Article:**

**Heat and Overcrowding Cause Illness for Hundreds at Puri Rath Yatra**

**Puri, Odisha – June 29, 2025:** The annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, was marred by a mass health event on Friday, June 27, 2025, with nearly 625 devotees falling ill due to extreme heat and overcrowding. Officials report that many were admitted to local hospitals with symptoms of vomiting, fainting, and minor injuries.

According to Puri Chief District Medical Officer Dr. Kishore Satapathy, most patients were treated and discharged after receiving preliminary care. However, approximately 70 people remained hospitalized at the District Headquarters Hospital, with nine reported to be in critical condition.

Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling attributed the widespread illness to the intense heat and humid conditions that prevailed during the festival.

Compounding the situation, sources indicate that a number of people were injured near the Balagandi area when Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, became stalled for over an hour. This prolonged halt created a dense concentration of people, leading to injuries as individuals attempted to escape the congested area. Volunteers from government agencies and private organizations assisted in transporting the injured to hospitals.

Despite the health issues, no fatalities have been reported. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the chariot’s delay to prevent similar incidents in the future.

**Summary of the Text:**

The article reports that nearly 625 people fell ill during the Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, on June 27, 2025. The primary causes were extreme heat and overcrowding. Most individuals experienced minor injuries, vomiting, and fainting. 70 remained hospitalized, nine of whom were in critical condition. A chariot delay also contributed to injuries due to overcrowding. No fatalities were reported.

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