Bhubaneswar: On Monday, Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi declared an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh for each family of two devotees who died following a health crisis at the annual Rath Yatra in Puri on July 16.

The victims were identified as Anil Das from Cuttack and Ashok Subare Raikar from Mumbai. Reports indicate that both individuals suffered from severe breathlessness amidst the large crowd near Marichikot Chhak on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) during the festivities. They were taken to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where they ultimately succumbed to their conditions while being treated.

In a statement on X regarding the ex gratia, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) conveyed Majhi’s deep sorrow over the losses and confirmed the allocation of Rs 10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the bereaved families.

The stampede-like incident occurred near Marichikot Chhak, situated approximately 100 feet from a police cordon, as thousands of devotees gathered on the Grand Road to participate in the annual Rath Yatra. The two devotees reportedly collapsed due to breathlessness in the heavily crowded area.

In addition to the fatalities, many other devotees were injured during the incident, which unfortunately overshadowed one of India’s largest religious events.