The tragic accidents marred the nationwide Jagannath Yatra that began on June 20, with incidents reported in Jharkhand and Ahmedabad.
In Jharkhand, a lightning accident claimed one life, while in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, another person tragically died after falling from a crowded balcony.
On Tuesday afternoon, the balcony of an old house fell when Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra was on its way to the Dariyapur, neighbourhood of Ahmedabad.
Over eight people were injured, and one person died during this. Some of the injured were reportedly viewing the Rath Yatra from the balcony of the second floor and a few were gathered below according to Inspector JS Choudhary of the Dariyapur police station.
The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital, where Mehul Panchal (36) died during treatment, while the condition of the other five is stated to be stable.
During the Jagannath Yatra in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, a major accident occurred. Lightning struck during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in the Silwar region of Hazaribagh.
There have been reports of more than a dozen people being injured in this accident, where two people have died. All of the injured have been transported to Sadar Hospital for treatment.
According to the report, a Rath Mela is held on the Silwar hill of Hazaribagh every year on the second day of Ashadh Shukla Paksha.
Aside from the local villagers, a considerable number of city residents attend the event.
Jagannath Yatra, also known as Rath Yatra or the Chariot event, is a popular Hindu event honouring Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Krishna, as well as his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
The deities are transported out of the temple and mounted on beautifully painted chariots during the Jagannath Yatra.
Thousands of worshippers pull the chariots through the streets of Puri; the celebration takes place in June or July, on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar.
