Puri: A home guard deployed for Yatra duty died under mysterious circumstances in Puri early Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Pradeep Mahanta, a resident of Hundapitha village under Ghatgaon police station in Keonjhar district.
According to officials, a team of 50 home guards from Keonjhar district had come to Puri for Rath Yatra duty. Pradeep Mahanta was among them. At around 10 pm, he was sleeping with his colleagues in a room of Satyabhama High School.
In the middle of the night, he reportedly woke up suddenly and vomited. His colleagues noticed white foam coming out of his mouth. He was immediately rushed to Sakhigopal Hospital by fellow home guards. However, doctors declared him brought dead.
The exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained. A snake bite is suspected, as colleagues reported signs consistent with it at the scene.
Following information, Satyabhama police reached the spot and launched an investigation. The body has been sent to Puri District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report.
The untimely death of the home guard has cast a pall over the Rath Yatra duty team. Police said further investigation is underway.
