At least two persons have been killed and several others injured in a stampede during the ongoing Nabakalebara Rath Yatra in Puri on Saturday.
Two women were killed at Marichikote and Balagandi square along the Grand road when three chariots were being towed towards Gundicha Temple Saturday afternoon.
The identity of both victims could not be ascertained.
The number of deaths are expected to rise as some seriously injured persons are being shifted from Puri to Cuttack S C B Medical College and Hospital.
Sanjiv Marik, Director General of Police said the police are ascertaining the cause of death.
In another mishap, a devotee died by drowning while he was taking bath in sea near the Puri beach.
Two persons also killed in rail mishap while they were attending the Festival.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the deaths and announced that government would bear medical expenses of injured ones.
Earlier in the day, several hundred devotees were rushed to hospital in stretchers as they fell unconscious.
All beds in major hospitals at Puri were filled with heatstroke patients.
The administration had, however, made elaborate arrangements to sprinkle water on devotees.
Yatra which started from the Puri temple this afternoon will conclude at Shree Gundicha temple tomorrow.
While, Lord Balabhadra’s Chariot reached at the Gundicha temple, the Chariots of Maa Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were stopped on their way today as they were not reached before sunset.
Devotees from all walks of life have been making a beeline to the town since yesterday for the world famous annual festival of chariots to catch a glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Sri Jagannath.