Odisha Minister Denies Mass Fainting at Puri Rath Yatra, Cites Humidity as Cause

Rapid Summary

• The annual Rath Yatra festival in puri, odisha, faced challenges as devotees fainted from extreme heat and humidity while pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
• Ambulances were dispatched to provide medical aid at the scene. Reports suggested over 500 hospitalisations, though state Minister Mukesh Mahaling contradicted these claims.
• Minister Mahaling stated “only a few devotees” collapsed due to high humidity and assured immediate medical treatment through well-equipped healthcare facilities. He also committed to visiting hospitals to ensure proper care.
• In planning for Rath Yatra:

– 378 healthcare professionals were deployed alongside 74 ambulances and 69 first-aid centres.
– AIIMS Bhubaneswar provided additional medical support at local centres.

• Security measures included:

– Deployment of over 10,000 police personnel with Quick Response Teams (QRTs).
– Installation of drones, anti-drone systems, and AI-enabled CCTV cameras for crowd control.

• officials reported that Friday’s event was paused in the evening; it is scheduled to resume on Saturday.

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