NEW DELHI: One devotee died and more than 100 others fainted on Thursday after stampede-like rush during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri, officials said.According to initial reports, the devotee collapsed after feeling suffocated in the crowd and was taken to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where he was declared dead. Emergency rescue teams and security personnel rushed to the spot, evacuating several people on stretchers and providing immediate medical assistance as the crowd swelled near the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple.The incident occurred as the world-famous Rath Yatra began with lakhs of devotees lining the Grand Road (Badadanda) to witness the deities being taken out in the traditional Pahandi procession.Following centuries-old rituals, Lord Sudarshan was brought out first, followed by Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. After ceremonial rituals, including the Chhera Pahanra performed by Puri’s Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, devotees began pulling the three chariots towards the Gundicha Temple at around 2 pm.Further details are awaited.