A huge rush of devotees in the Jagannath temple on the holy Bada Ekadashi on Monday led to a near stampede situation, leaving at least seven persons injured.
Many fell unconscious. A lady who lost sense out of asphyxia and was released after being treated, however, died at her rented house. All this happened while hundreds of devotees jostled to see the laxminaryan Vesha of lord Jagannath.
The deceased was identified as Tribeni Patra of Shergad of Ganjam district. Seven devotees were shifted to the hospital between morning and noon as they fell unconscious because of suffocation. The condition of Sailabala Das, mother of mountaineer Kalpana Das of Dhenkanal, was serious.
The injured devotees under treatment in the district headquarters hospital were Hemalata Mishra of Gunupur, Sabitri and Rekha Mishra of Banpur, Rabindra Kumar Sahoo of Barmunda, Ritarani Naik of Dumduma and Aruna Acharya of Brahmapur. This apart, another three devotees sustained injuries as the barricade at the entrance gate collapsed. They were being treated in the district headquarters hospital.
SP Asish Kumar Singh said elaborates steps were being taken to conduct the pilgrims in the temple. Several platoons of police personnel were deployed while a police help desk was operated at the lion’s Gate.
Transport service was being provided to the differently able and old devotees from Marichikot square to the temple main gate.