Odisha Rocked By 6 Child Deaths: 3 Drown While Collecting Water For Vishwakarma Puja; 3 Killed During Ganesh Idol Immersion

Odisha News: Six children were killed in three separate incidents after they drowned in Odisha’s Ganjam and Sundergarh districts on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported citing Police.

In Sundergarh district, three girls drowned in Shankh river in Salangabahal village within Raiboga police station limits at around 9 am. The girls were involved in sand collection for Karma Puja, police said. The dead have been identified as Geetika Sahu (6), Sibika Sahu (6) and Sruti Sahu (8), all residents of Majhatoli. The police added that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination at a local hospital.

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In a separate incident in Ganjam district, a boy died after drowning in a village pond within Digapahandi police station limits in Ganjam district. The victim, a class 8 student, was involved in Ganesh idol immersion at around 10 am when the incident happened. The boy, Sitanshu Jena, was declared dead after locals took him to Digapahandi hospital.

In another incident, two students drowned during Ganesh idol immersion in Ghodahad river on Wednesday, police said. The students have been identified as Adarsh Sahu (14) and Preetam Sameli (14), residents of the Hinjilicut municipality area, also in Ganjam district. The boys had accidentally slipped into the water during the rituals. They were declared dead at the hospital.

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Police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway, police added.