Bhubaneswar, July 17 -- The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha claimed that around 120 trauma cases were identified and nearly 300 devotees were affected during the Rath Yatra festival in Puri on Thursday. The regional party raised concerns over crowd management and the safety of pilgrims during the mass gathering, urging the Mohan Majhi government to take immediate corrective measures.

Senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma, who reportedly visited the healthcare facilities to monitor the situation, confirmed the casualties and called for urgent medical intervention. He said that the party president, Naveen Patnaik, personally deputed him to oversee the welfare of the devotees following reports of health emergencies.

Speaking to the...