A sudden stampede at a famous Hindu festival in the eastern Indian state of Odisha on Thursday left at least one person dead and several others injured, the Indian news agency Press Trust of India reported.

According to the agency, the incident occurred when tens of thousands of people gathered in the coastal town of Puri for the annual Rath Yatra festival.

It is noted that the festival is considered one of the oldest and largest religious processions in the world.

The centuries-old festival involves taking out idols of Hindu deities from the Jagannath Temple and carrying them through the streets on brightly decorated chariots.

Video footage from the scene showed the injured being taken to hospitals, while shoes, bags, and other belongings were scattered in the area after the incident.

Odisha police said in a social media post that rescue teams provided first aid and oxygen to 33 people before they were taken to nearby hospitals.

Last year, three people were killed and more than ten others were injured and taken to hospitals after a stampede during the same festival.