Chaos at Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Rath Yatra as Elephants Run Amok, Several Injured

Chaos at Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Rath Yatra: The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Thursday was disrupted when a group of elephants, part of the traditional procession, went out of control. Chaos ensued, and several devotees and bystanders had to run for safety as the massive animals charged through the crowded streets.

A video shared by PTI shows the moment chaos unfolded during the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad. In the clip, people are seen scattering in panic as mahouts try to regain control of the elephants. One of the elephants is seen charging towards the crowd, and devotees and bystanders are seen running through the narrow lanes.

VIDEO | Gujarat: Chaos erupted during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad as elephants went out of control and trampled people. Further details awaited.

(Source: Third Party)

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/sEIiYhXmt6

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The incident happened around 10:15 am on Friday as the Jagannath Rath Yatra procession was passing through the Khadia area of Ahmedabad, two people were injured, reported Indian Express.

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According to PTI, the elephant lost balance due to noise and crowd, and for a brief moment, chaos happened. But swift action by the local authorities brought the situation under control.

The 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad began early Friday morning, drawing thousands of devotees eager for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra. As per tradition, members of the Khalasi community ceremoniously pulled the three elaborately decorated chariots out of the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur.

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The procession in Ahmedabad has 18 elephants, 100 trucks, bhajan mandlis, and 30 akhadas. This year, the procession will cover a 16 km route in a day. Several trucks are decorated as thematic tableaux showcasing cultural and religious motifs.

Around 14 to 15 lakh devotees are expected to line up on the 16 km route of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Friday.

To ensure crowd safety, 23,800 security personnel are deployed across the city. For the first time, an Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system has been introduced to monitor crowd movement and prevent stampede-like situations, according to a government release.

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