During the annual Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha, two individuals lost their lives due to an 'unprecedented rush' of devotees, according to reports by The Indian Express.The state government has refuted claims of a stampede, stating that no such incident occurred.

Instead, officials highlighted that seven devotees fell ill and were hospitalized, with a 60-year-old man later succumbing to his injuries and a 35-year-old man suffering a cardiac arrest despite medical intervention.Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling emphasized that there was no stampede during the event.

Police officials noted that around 100 people were rescued from overcrowded areas, with videos shared on social media showing ambulances navigating through crowds.The incident follows a similar tragedy in 2024, where a person died of suffocation during the same festival.

Thousands of devotees participate in pulling the chariot carrying deities to the Gundicha temple, with extensive security measures in place to ensure safety.The government has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and is focusing on improving crowd management for future events.