A devotee died during Lord Jagannath's Nabakalebara Bahuda Yatra here today after he fell unconscious while performing Sankirtan.
Rajkishore Swain of Nayagarh district fell and lost consciousness while performing Sankirtan and chanting the Lord's name at Sri Gundicha temple during the Pahandi ceremony of the presiding deities.
He was rushed to district headquarters hospital where doctors declared him dead, said Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO of Puri) Gyanendra Kumar Sahu.
Medical history of the deceased showed that he had a record of cardiac problems, the CDMO said, adding, the exact reason of his death was, however, yet to be ascertained.
The mishap took place during Pahandi procession of the deities to the three majestic chariots for their return journey to Sri Jagannath Temple.
Earlier two women devotees had died in a stampede-like situation near 'Bada Danda', the Grand Avenue, during Rath Yatra on July 18 when the chariots of the three deities were pulled for their nine-day sojourn to Sri Gundicha Temple.
