A screengrab from a video showing rescue efforts being carried out. Photo credit: X/@odisha_police
Multiple people were evacuated by emergency rescue teams on stretchers on Thursday (July 16, 2026) as an overwhelming surge of pilgrims gathered at the Singhadwara of the Puri Jagannath Temple for the annual Rath Yatra.
The Special Rescue Unit (SRU) of the Odisha Fire & Emergency Services has safely rescued 33 devotees from heavy crowd congestion since this morning, said Odisha Police in a post on X.
The rescued devotees were immediately provided with first aid and oxygen support before being shifted to nearby hospitals for further medical care, the post said.
Published – July 16, 2026 06:43 pm IST
