00:06These are the images on your screens of the result of a stampede that broke out during the Puri Rat
00:14Yatra.
00:15You can see that there were crowds that had gathered in large numbers.
00:19Unfortunately, at this point, it looks like the casualty count could go up.
00:23For now, the information we have is that one devotee wall has, in fact, been killed in this stampede.
00:31Over hundreds injured as well.
00:35They had to ignore some of those images just because of how sensitive they are.
00:38But just look at that on your screens.
00:41Thousands have gathered with no way out.
00:44Just a small pocket through which so many are able to make their way out.
00:48Many of them stuck in that crowd crush with nowhere to go.
00:52And obviously, as we've seen in so many of these kind of stampede-like situations,
00:57it becomes impossible to breathe.
00:58You have nowhere to go.
00:59And then there's chaos that breaks out when people start panicking.
01:04Clearly, preparations weren't taken up.
01:06Clearly, steps weren't taken to ensure that a situation like this does not arise.
01:11Puri in Odisha is known to be packed at this time of the year for the Rat Yatra.
01:16These are crowds that's not unprecedented in Puri.
01:19And yet, clearly, due to a lack of arrangements, due to a lack of facilities,
01:23the crowds there just squished together literally on the one particular lane with no place to go.
01:30These are the images that are coming in right now.
01:33We're getting you one video after another.
01:34In one of those videos, you can see, obviously, this is mobile footage shot by someone who's at the site.
01:40And you can see people, locals trying to help each other out in the situation.
01:45Devotees trying to help each other out.
01:47Now, what I can tell you is that 100 people have been injured in this situation.
01:52One person has been critically injured as well.
01:56Anirban Sinha Roy is joining us with more details on this.
01:59Unfortunate images that are coming in right now, Anirban, from the Puri Rat Yatra.
02:04You know, a gathering of faith seemingly taking a tragic turn right now.
02:08And clearly due to a lack of preparations on ground for the massive crowds that are gathered.
02:13What are the updates you can get us on the situation currently and also on those who've been injured?
02:19Well, you know that lots of gatherings took place in the Rat Yatra, which is one of the biggest festivals
02:26of the world.
02:27And where we have seen that today around 10 lakh people gathered in front of the Rat of Jagannath, Balabhatra
02:35and Shubhadra.
02:36And what we have seen during the path from starting from the Puri Jagannath Dham towards the Gundicha Temple,
02:44where there is lots of devotees, those who are waiting for the darshan of Jagannath Dev.
02:49And after that, what happened, reportedly what we have learned is right now that around 100 people got injured in
02:59a stampede-like situation just in front of the Rat.
03:04When the Rat Yatra started and when the Cordon area were being opened and when the people started rushing towards
03:13the Rat.
03:14And on that occasion, this incident, the untoward incident unfolded.
03:20And right now what we have learned is one is very seriously and critically injured and admitted in hospital.
03:27As doctors are trying to save the life of that person.
03:32And also around 100 of the people got injured.
03:36And over 50 to 55 people is right now admitted in the hospital after this incident.
03:43You know that last year also, around 4 to 5 people got dead after this kind of situation, the stampede
03:56-like situation in Puri's Rat Yatra.
03:58And right now what we have learned, so far is 100 people got injured and one is very, very critical.
04:04So our hopes and prayers for all those who have been injured in this incident.
04:07Again, just look at those images, especially that one video where you see a pack of people, devotees, each trying
04:14to find a way out.
04:15There's no way out and that's what led to the stampede-like situation.
04:19Thanks, Anir Bhatt, for getting us those details.
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