More than 500 people injured after “stampede” at Hindu festival

More than 500 people were injured after a “stampede” occurred at a Hindu festival. The incident reportedly happened while onlookers celebrated the Ratha Yatra festival which takes place each year in Puri, Odisha, in eastern India on June 27. Large crowds had gathered for the festival which involves a ceremonial procession of three deities – Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra – on chariots through the streets. The stampede reportedly happened during the pulling of the chariots when a sudden crowd surge near the Gajapati King’s palace during the ‘Pahandi’ ritual caused panic.