Bhubaneswar, July 12: A Home Guard from Keonjhar district, who was deployed in Puri for the upcoming annual Rath Yatra festival, died on Saturday night.

The deceased identified as Pradip Kumar Mahanta, was a native of Hundapita village under Ghatagaon police station of Keonjhar district. He was part of a 50-member Home Guard team, who were deployed in Puri for the annual Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath.

According to reports, the team was staying at Satyabadi High School. At around 10 PM yesterday, Mahanta suddenly fell ill and complained of vomiting, stomach pain. He was immediately rushed to the Sakhigopal Hospital where doctor declared him brought dead.

Expressing deep sorrow, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relef Fund for the next of the deceased’s kin. He also announced that an eligible family member of the deceased will be given a job of Home Guard.

Taking to X, the Chief Minister’s Office wrote, “Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of Home Guard Pradeep Kumar Mahanta of Keonjhar, who was deployed on Rath Yatra duty. The Chief Minister has also announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) for the next of the kin of deceased. The Chief Minister has also decided that an eligible member of the deceased’s family will be given a Home Guard job.”