India, July 17 -- One person died and many others fell ill in a temporary crowd surge during the Rath Yatra (chariot procession) celebrations in Odisha's Puri on Thursday, official sources said. Another person died in what the authorities said was a "separate and unrelated incident". They said the person died of cardiac arrest.

Lakhs of devotees joined the annual Rath Yatra festival in the seaside temple town. The Pahandi ritual, the ceremonial procession of the sibling deities - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath - is currently underway. Health department officials were yet to react to the death and injuries.

Inspector General Fire Services Umashaknar Dash said there was a heavy rush of people at Grand Road or Bada Danda...