Jajpur: Tragedy struck during Holi celebrations in Jajpur district as two persons drowned in separate incidents while bathing in rivers after playing with colours on Wednesday.
The first incident occurred at Khariparia Ghat on the Brahmani River under Bari area. Hiranya Kumar Behuria, a young resident of Bari Jenapada, had gone to the river with friends to bathe after celebrating Holi. During the bath, he reportedly slipped into deep water and drowned.
Locals alleged that despite repeated phone calls, the fire brigade vehicle failed to reach the spot in time, triggering widespread dissatisfaction among residents. His body was later recovered and sent to the District Headquarters Hospital in Jajpur for post-mortem examination.
In a separate incident in Vyasanagar town, a 40-year-old man drowned in the Kharasrota River while bathing after playing Holi.
The deceased has been identified as Sangram Ajitabh Das (40), a resident of Padmapur under Jajpur Road police station limits. He was working in a senior position at HDFC Bank. According to reports, he accidentally slipped into deep water and drowned during the bath.
Police reached the spot soon after the incident, drove away other bathers from the area, and cordoned off the riverbank to prevent further mishaps. The body was recovered and kept at the mortuary of Jajpur Road Hospital. Family members have been informed.
The twin incidents have cast a shadow over Holi festivities in the district, with locals demanding stricter safety measures and permanent deployment of rescue teams at vulnerable river ghats during festivals.
