One person died and about 100 were injured in a stampede-like situation during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri on Thursday, The Times of India reported.

The newspaper quoted unidentified officials as claiming that there had been no stampede. However, the death took place amid a heavy rush of devotees.

The man was taken to a hospital but was declared dead, The Indian Express reported.

Inspector General of Police for Fire and Emergency Services Umashankar Dash told ANI that about 100 persons “who were getting suffocated and pressed inside the crowd, and were feeling uncomfortable” had been rescued.

“We have rescued them and taken them to temporary hospitals, to ambulance,” Dash was quoted as saying.

Videos posted on social media showed devotees helping others who had fainted.

The Odisha Police said that the persons who were rescued were provided with first aid and oxygen support before being shifted to nearby hospitals for further medical care.

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolences and said that he was praying for the “swift recovery of the more than a hundred injured devotees”.

The Biju Janata Dal leader said that he hopes the state government will ensure “the convenience and safety of the devotees by properly managing the crowds”.

In 2024, a person had died of suffocation and several were injured during the yatra.

During the annual festival, thousands of devotees pull the chariot carrying idols of three Hindu deities to the Gundicha temple from the Jagannath temple.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.