Bhubaneswar, March 29 (IANS) At least 14 people were killed in separate accidents during Holi in Odisha, police said Friday, a day after the festival of colours was celebrated.
While 10 people were killed in the state capital Bhubaneswar, the remaining deaths were reported from other parts of the state, a senior police official told IANS Friday.
“A total 14 deaths have been reporedt in the state, including 10 in Bhubaneswar,” the official said. Most of the deaths were caused by drowning, he added.
At least five people, believed to be drunk, drowned while bathing in an accident prone zone of the Bhargabi river in Bhubaneswar’s Balakati area, police said. Aged between 18-20, the group did not take any precautionary measures despite being warned by police personnel deployed there, the official said.
While three bodies were retrieved Thursday, two other were found during a search early Friday.
Five more deaths by drowning, one each from the city’s Mancheswar, Nayapalli, Cuttack Road, Station Bazar and Tankapani Road areas were reported on Holi.
According to police, two people were killed in Kendrapara district and one each in Nayagarh and Ganjam districts during the festival.
Most parts of India celebrated Holi Wednesday. However, the festival was celebrated in Odisha and Bihar Thursday.
