Puri, July 16 -- The Odisha Fire and Emergency Services rescued nearly 100 devotees who experienced suffocation, crowd pressure and discomfort during the ongoing Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, while intensifying dewatering operations in rain-affected low-lying areas following a shift in weather conditions.

Earlier, speaking to ANI, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Fire and Emergency Services, Umashankar Dash, said the department had made advance preparations for both humid conditions and rainfall, and that the focus has now shifted towards clearing waterlogged areas after rain.

The IGP said, "Keeping in view the condition of Puri and weather forecast, we were prepared for 2 things - 1) what will we be doing if it is cloudy and humid, 2...