Tragedy mars Holi celebrations in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Tragedy struck Holi celebrations in Odisha as at least four persons were killed in various incidents of drowning across the State on Monday, official said.

All the victims were either minors or youngsters who had gone to water bodies to take bath after playing Holi.

In Kendrapara, two boys drowned in a pond at Patkura. The deceased have been identified as Niranjan Nayak (12) of Basudeipur and Deepak Sutar (12) of Chanpur village.

Another 9-year-old minor also met watery grave in Hansipatna village in Balasore district. The deceased identified as Saiswarup Rout.

According to reports, the mishap occurred when Rout along with three of his friends had gone to the village pond to take bath after Holi celebrations.

The minors somehow slipped into the pond and though the villagers had rushed the trio to the hospital after rescuing them, Rout was declared dead by the doctors at Soro hospital.

In Bhubaneswar, a minor also died after drowning at a pond at GGP Colony. Two other persons went missing while taking bath in Kuakhai River near Bankuala of Balianta and search operations were on to find the missing duo.

In another tragic incident, a first engineering student of Saranga Engineering College also died after drowning in Bramhani river near PHD Pump House at Angul.