Minor Crowd Surge at Puri Srimandir During Dola Jatra, Devotees Safe
Puri, Odisha: A minor crowd surge near the Dola Bedi gate of Shree Jagannath Temple during the Dola Jatra procession on Monday led to a brief scare among devotees.
According to reports, a woman pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh fell after her clothing got entangled in the crowd movement, causing two to three other women to stumble.
All sustained minor injuries.
Temple police and security personnel acted swiftly, rescuing the devotees and rushing them to a nearby hospital.
Doctors confirmed that the women were treated and discharged in stable condition.
Despite the incident, the Dola Jatra festivities continued smoothly, with thousands of devotees participating in the colourful rituals.
The festival, also known as Dola Purnima, marks the arrival of spring and coincides with Holi celebrations.
Deities are taken out in grand processions and placed on swings, drawing massive crowds every year.
Authorities emphasised that crowd control measures were in place and the situation was quickly brought under control, ensuring no disruption to the rituals.
This episode highlights the challenges of managing large gatherings at one of India’s most revered shrines, which attracts millions of pilgrims annually.
