Over 500 individuals sustained injuries in a chaotic “stampede” that broke out during a Hindu festival celebration. The incident took place on June 27 in Puri, Odisha, eastern India, where large crowds had assembled for the annual Ratha Yatra festival. The event features a ceremonial procession of three deities – Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra – on chariots through the streets. The stampede reportedly occurred during the chariot-pulling ritual when a sudden surge of the crowd near the Gajapati King’s palace sparked panic. Many devotees, overwhelmed by the intense heat and humidity, began running in various directions, creating a “stampede-like” situation. Emergency medical teams and ambulances were swiftly deployed to the scene, and the injured were rushed to Puri Medical College and nearby primary health centres for immediate treatment. To manage the massive crowd and ensure security, nearly 10,000 personnel, including eight companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), were stationed across the city. As a precautionary measure, rescue and medical teams remain deployed along the route, with authorities urging devotees to remain calm and adhere to crowd control guidelines. Unfortunately, another stampede occurred at the festival on June 29, resulting in three fatalities and at least six injuries, as reported by Al Arabiya English. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .