Malkangiri: One person died while another was critically injured after falling from date palm trees in two separate incidents as part of traditional Charak puja celebrations in the Kalimela region of Malkangiri district on Monday.
In the first incident, Jagadish Sana, a resident of MPV-36 village under Nalagunthi Panchayat, fell from a date palm tree in MV-72 village. He sustained severe injuries and succumbed on the way to the hospital while being rushed for treatment by local residents.
In a separate incident in MV-80 village, a young man named Mihir Mandal also fell from a date palm tree and was critically injured. He has been admitted to the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.
The back-to-back accidents have cast a pall of gloom over the Charak Puja festivities in the Kalimela area. The joyful atmosphere of the traditional festival was marred by shock and sorrow following the tragic incidents.
Charak Puja is a popular folk festival observed in many rural and tribal areas of Odisha, where devotees often climb tall palm trees as part of the ritual performances.
