Three people, including a servitor and a policeman, were injured during a ritual at the historic Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday night, officials said.

The accident occurred around 10:40 PM when a servitor was climbing the 11th-century Lord Shiva shrine, carrying the ‘Mahadeepa’ (sacred burning lamp) in one hand. He lost balance and sustained injuries. Despite the mishap, another servitor took over and successfully placed the ‘Mahadeepa’ atop the temple, completing the ritual.

Khurda District Collector Chanchal Rana confirmed that the injured servitor, identified as Jogendra Samartha (50), was admitted to the state-run Capital Hospital for treatment. The incident has raised concerns about safety measures during temple rituals.