Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: As many as 750 devotees were taken to the hospital on Friday after they fell ill due to overcrowding and scorching weather in Puri, the health department informed. Of the total 750 individuals taken to the hospital, 230 devotees were admitted to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), and around 520 others were treated at the district headquarters hospital (DHH). 

The majority of devotees were discharged from the hospital after receiving first aid, but one person was critical and was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, for further and better treatment. According to the information provided by the health department, at least 12 devotees are still in the ICU. 

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An ambulance corridor was created to swiftly shift the patients to the hospital, while nearly 600 people formed a human chain to facilitate the movement of the ambulance in the crowd. 

70 individuals were treated in the district hospital in Puri, while at least 9 people were critically ill. It was also claimed by sources that some devotees suffered injuries near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour, PTI reported. 

"The prolonged stoppage led to heavy crowding, and several people were injured while trying to escape the packed area," the official said. 

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that people fell ill because of the scorching heat and high humidity. 

As per the details provided by Puri Chief District Medical Officer Dr Kishore Satapathy, overcrowding led to several medical conditions in multiple devotees present at Jagannath Rath Yatra and many experienced minor injuries, vomiting, and fainting. 

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Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri features arrangements to cater to any medical emergency, as an additional 378 doctors from outside districts were deployed in Puri. Along with this, 265 extra hospital beds were arranged to accommodate patients.