TNI Bureau: The postmortem reports of two of the three devotees who lost their lives during this year’s Ratha Jatra have confirmed that both deaths were caused by asphyxia resulting from a crush (stampede).

According to the postmortem reports, the victims died due to suffocation caused by broken chest ribs amid the overcrowding. The reports ruled out any other medical condition as the cause of death, establishing that the fatalities were directly linked to the stampede.

The tragic incident occurred during the annual Ratha Jatra on July 16, where an overwhelming crowd of devotees had gathered for the darshan of the deities. Several others were also injured in the incident.

The confirmation by the postmortem reports is likely to intensify scrutiny over the crowd management and safety arrangements made by the district administration and police during one of the world’s largest religious congregations.

The Odisha Government had earlier ruled out any stampede and claimed that one death was due to suffocation and other one was due to heart attack.