Bhubaneswar: A woman devotee died while offering puja at Chadak Mela in Balasore district on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Tulsi Mirdha of Gumuriapal village under Kharagpur police station of East Medinipur district in West Bengal state.
According to reports, a woman devotee suddenly became unwell while offering puja at the fair. She was immediately attended by the health officials deployed there. She however, died while being attended by the doctors.
Another youth is undergoing treatment at the health camp after becoming critical.
Chandaneswar temple in Balasore district was abuzz with activities with lakhs of devotees thronging the Shiva temple for Chadak Mela. In fact, the celebration has kicked off a month back. The annual fair is said to have originated some 200 years ago, sources said.
The devotees wear saffron coloured clothes while worshipping Lord Shiva for a month. They take only vegetarian food once a day. The annual fair has registered a rise in the number of devotees over the years.
