Accidental drowning post Holi celebrations in Odisha; 6 dead

Cuttack/ Mayurbhanj/ Bolangir: In separate incidents, at least six people, including a minor were drowned while bathing post Holi celebrations in Odisha.

A Class X student drowned in Kathajodi river where he had gone to bathe after playing Holi. He was rescued by locals and admitted to SCM Medical College in a critical condition, but later succumbed.

The 15-year-old victim has been identified as Satish Sahu of Gopalpur area of Cuttack. He has appeared for matric examination this year.

In another Holi tragedy, a youth met watery grave after falling into Sitakunda waterfall of Similipal in Mayurbhanj district. The deceased, Akshay Sharma (in his early twenties) and three of his friends had come to the waterfall on a picnic from Balasore.

Though Akshay’s friends rushed him to the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital, he was announced brought dead by the doctor.

“Four youths hailing from 22, Vivekananda Marg in Balasore were here in Sitakund. They were employed at a garment shop there. A case of unnatural death has been registered and the body, sent for autopsy,” said Swarnalata Minj, IIC Sadar police station of Baripada.

Furthermore, one Ashutosh Bisi from Gurjibhata drowned to death in Tel river of Bolangir district after celebrating in yet another unfortunate accident.

Similarly, a youth, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, drowned in the Puri Canal near Barang on the outskirts of the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Likewise, Niranjan Paramik drowned while taking a bath in the Kharasrota river after playing Holi in Jajpur district.

In another such incident, seven-year-old Bishnu Gadasara of Thiaberana village under Lahunipada police limits in Sundargarh district met the watery grave this afternoon.