By News Karnataka
Puttur: A religious gathering at the Kurath Thangal Urs held in Kaniyur village, Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, turned alarming when several devotees suffered respiratory problems due to severe overcrowding and oxygen shortage.
The Urs celebration, which drew an unexpectedly massive turnout of devotees, led to several individuals experiencing breathlessness. Many were rushed to nearby hospitals in Kaniyur and Puttur for immediate medical attention.
Health officials suspect the high concentration of people in a confined space led to a drastic dip in air circulation, causing breathing difficulty among the attendees. Panic spread briefly as more people began to complain of discomfort, prompting swift action by local volunteers and emergency responders.
The state highway connecting Puttur to Kukke Subrahmanya, which passes through Kaniyur, was entirely blocked as the sheer volume of people spilled over onto the roads. This caused major traffic disruption, with vehicles stranded for hours.
The event organisers were reportedly overwhelmed by the unexpected crowd surge, which far exceeded the anticipated number of participants. Authorities are now reviewing the incident to explore better crowd control measures for future religious programs.
The incident has drawn attention to the urgent need for planning, ventilation, and safety protocols during large public religious events, especially in rural setups.