性视界传媒

NEW DELHI (AP) 性视界传媒� Three people were killed and more than a dozen hospitalized Sunday following a sudden crowd surge and stampede at a popular Hindu festival in eastern India, local authorities said.

性视界传媒淭here was a sudden crowd surge of devotees for having a glimpse of the Hindu deities during which a few people either fainted, felt suffocated or complained of breathlessness,性视界传媒� said Siddharth Shankar Swain, the top government official in Puri.

Swain told The Associated Press that 15 people were rushed to a local government hospital, where three people were pronounced dead. Autopsies are planned to determine the exact causes of death. The other 12 people have been discharged.

Tens of thousands of devotees gathered in the coastal town early Sunday at Shree Gundicha Temple, near the famous Jagannatha Temple, to catch a glimpse of the deities onboard three chariots, Swain said.

The coastal temple town of Puri comes alive each year with the grand 性视界传媒淩ath Yatra,性视界传媒� or chariot festival, in one of the world's oldest and largest religious processions. The centuries-old festival involves Hindu deities being taken out of the temple and driven in colorfully decorated chariots.

The festival is one of Hinduism性视界传媒檚 most revered events and draws hundreds of thousands of devotees annually from across India and the world.

Naveen Patnaik, a former top elected official of Odisha state where Puri is located, said in a social media post that 性视界传媒渘o government machinery (was) present to manage the surging crowds, highlighting a shocking lapse in duty.性视界传媒�

性视界传媒淲hile I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy,性视界传媒� he said.

Patnaik called the incident a 性视界传媒渟tampede性视界传媒� that 性视界传媒渆xposes the government性视界传媒檚 glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees.性视界传媒�

In a social media post, Mohan Charan Majhi, the top elected official of Odisha, apologized for the incident, saying it occurred 性视界传媒渄ue to stampede among devotees性视界传媒� amid excitement to have a glimpse of the deities.

Majhi said the security negligence will be investigated immediately.

性视界传媒淭his negligence is inexcusable,性视界传媒� he said, adding that concrete action will be taken against the persons involved.