Jagannath temple servitor who suffered injuries during Rath Yatra dies

BHUBANESWAR: A servitor of Lord Jagannath who had sustained injuries during the Car Festival died while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Nakula Bhoi.

The victim had sustained serious injuries when a rope of Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot snapped near Market Chhak while it was being pulled by the devotees on the occasion of Bahuda Yatra, the last day of Car festival of Lord Jagannath.

On Bahuda Yatra day, the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabahdra and Devi Subhadra, the presiding deities of Srimandir, return to their temple from Srigundicha Temple, considered to be their aunt’s place.

Nakula was initially admitted to Puri District Headquarters Hospital in a critical condition. Later, he was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar when his condition deteriorated. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Eight other devotees were also taken ill during the pulling of chariots due to suffocation.

Following the mishap, all the injured were shifted to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. They were discharged after fully recovering from injuries.