Bhubaneswar, July 24: A 57-year-old devotee from Cuttack died after falling ill while participating in the Bahuda Yatra in Puri on Friday.

The devotee, identified as Abhiram Das, reportedly collapsed while pulling Devi Subhadra’s ‘Darpadalan’ chariot amid a large gathering of devotees.

According to reports, Das experienced breathing difficulties and lost consciousness while pulling the chariot on the Bada Danda. Fellow devotees and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police stated that Das likely suffered suffocation due to the intense crowd pressure during the procession. His body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and his family members have been informed.

Several other devotees also reportedly fell ill during the festivities and were admitted to hospitals, where they are currently receiving treatment.

This marks the third death reported during this year’s Rath Yatra celebrations. Earlier, two devotees died after allegedly suffering suffocation while pulling the chariots.