Puri, June 29(Newshub Desk): Tragedy struck early this morning near the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri as a stampede claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured.
The incident reportedly occurred during a heavy rush of pilgrims gathered for the ongoing Rath Yatra preparations.
Eyewitnesses suggest the stampede broke out when a barricade gave way near the Grand Road, causing panic among the crowd.
Local authorities, including police and disaster response teams, swiftly intervened to control the situation and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed. Odisha Chief Minister has expressed condolences and ordered a detailed probe into the mishap.
Security measures across the temple town are being reviewed to prevent further incidents.
