At least nine servitors of the Puri Jagannath temple were injured on Tuesday when the idol of Lord Balabhadra fell on them as it was being taken out from the chariot. The ritual, known as 'Pahandi', was part of the Rath Yatra Festival, and the idol was being taken out in the Gundicha temple.
Five of the injured were admitted to hospital, while four others suffered minor injuries, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain was quoted as saying by PTI. Two of those who were hospitalised were released and joined the temple rituals soon after.
The incident occurred shortly after 9 pm, when the heavy wooden idol was being brought down to be taken to the temple. While some reports suggest those carrying the idol lost control, one of the injured said there was an issue with the "rope-like material tied to the idol", PTI reported.
Chief Minister Wishes Injured A Speedy Recovery
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed concern about the incident, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured servitors.
He directed Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan — the Puri Jagannath temple comes under his department — to visit Puri and take appropriate steps.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also went to Puri and visited the hospital to meet the injured servitors.
“With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, all injured persons are doing fine and the rituals are also going on,” Harichandan was quoted as saying by PTI.
Parida said, “We will report to the chief minister for further action.”
Soon after the mishap, the ritual of the sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra — resumed, and all the idols were taken inside the Gundicha temple, considered their birthplace.
The idols will be at the Gundicha temple till ‘Bahuda Jatra' or the return car festival on July 15, when the deities will return to the Jagannath temple, PTI reported.