Puri, July 24 (UDN): A 57-year-old devotee lost his life after reportedly falling ill while participating in the pulling of Devi Subhadra’s chariot during the Bahuda Yatra in Puri on Friday evening.

The deceased has been identified as Abhiram Das, a resident of Cuttack.

According to eyewitnesses, Das was among thousands of devotees pulling the Darpadalan chariot when he suddenly collapsed amid the massive crowd. Initial reports indicate that he experienced breathing difficulties, possibly due to congestion and suffocation during the procession.

Devotees nearby, assisted by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and emergency responders, immediately shifted him to a first-aid centre on the Grand Road. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Hospital sources said the devotee was reportedly suffering from high blood pressure, though the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a post-mortem examination. The body has been sent for autopsy and will be handed over to the family after the legal formalities are completed.

The incident cast a shadow over the grand return car festival, which drew lakhs of devotees to the pilgrim town. Officials said several other devotees also complained of exhaustion, dehydration, and breathing discomfort during the chariot-pulling ceremony. They were provided medical assistance at nearby health camps and hospitals.

Authorities had deployed multiple first-aid centres, ambulances, and emergency response teams along the Grand Road to attend to medical emergencies during the annual festival.