Puri, July 17: While the Odisha government is studying the precise reasons behind the death of a few devotees during the Puri Rath Yatra on Thursday, Odisha Health Minister Mahaling has ruled out of any stampede during the festivity.

The Health Minister,however has confirmed of two deaths amid the massive crowd during the Rath Yatra yesterday.

Responding to the pressers following the tragic incident during Lord Jagannath’s annual festivity, Mahaling stated that no stampede during Rath Yatra took place during the chariot pulling.

Briefing on the issue, the Health Minister said,"One 60-year-old devotee died due to suffocation, while another is suspected to have died of a heart attack.”

“Compensation will be announced for the rightful heirs after consultation with the CM," the Minister stated.

Worth mentioning, the Puri Rath Yatra held yesterday recorded enormous footfalls over 6 lakhs those congregated on the Puri Bada Danda for darshan of the deities on the chariots. Meanwhile, several devotees including two elderly ones felt uneasy amid the crowd who were rushed for medical interventions. However, two of them reportedly passed away during treatment, bringing forth a murkish atmosphere in & around the shrine.