Security up at 3 places in Ganjam after man crushed under chariot wheels
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Berhampur: A day after a 32-year-old man was allegedly crushed to death under the wheels of a chariot at Sikula in Ganjam district, security has been tightened in places where Rath Yatra was held on Saturday.
Chariots are pulled by devotees in Digapahandi, Dharakote and Surangi, a day after Puri. Hundreds of people from nearby villages pulled the chariot in Digapahandi and Dharakote, while several people from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and tribals thronged Surangi in Patrapur block to participate in the festival.
Siba Behera of Sikula died after the chariot allegedly ran over him on Friday. He was rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries late evening, police said.
"We are investigating the incident," said Deepak Mishra, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Purushottampur.
"Following the accident, we have asked police officers to keep strict vigil on chariot pulling in their areas," said SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M. He said adequate forces were also deployed in Surangi and Digapahandi to ensure incident-free Rath Yatra.
"Ever since the Jagannath Temple was built in Surangi, located near the Andhra Pradesh border, by the then king in the 18th century, the pulling of chariot was done a day after Puri Rath Yatra," said Anchal Pradhan, an elderly resident.
Similar tradition continues in Dharakote and Digapahandi. "Bahuda Yatra will also be observed in these places a day after the traditional return car festival. It's our tradition since the temple was established," said Kuresh Patra, an advocate in Digapahandi.
According to legends, everyone went to participate in the Rath Yatra in nearby places, including Jarada and Chikiti, leaving behind hardly any devotee to pull chariots in Digapahandi, Dharakote and Surangi. This propmpted the kings to postpone the pulling of chariots for a day.
Rath Yatra was celebrated in Jarada on Friday, where Lord Jagannath is worshipped as Lord Parthasarathi.
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