6 Holi revellers drown in Odisha, 8 injured in clash

At least six persons including a 7-year-old boy were drowned while taking bath after playing Holi in different parts of Odisha on Friday, police said.

Eight persons were also injured in a group clash in the city during celebration of the festival of colours.

The reports of drowning came from the districts of Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Bolangir and Sundargarh.

A class X student, identified as Satish Sahu of Gopalpur area, was drowned in Kathajodi river where he had gone to bathe after playing Holi.

An unidentified body of a 7-year-old boy was also found in Puri canal near Barang area in Cuttack district.

In another tragedy, a 22-year-old youth identified as Akshya Sharma was drowned in Sitakund water fall in the Similipal National park.

Sharma slipped deep into the water of Sitakund while taking bath, police said.

One Ashutosh Bisi from Gurjibhata in Bolangir district drowned in Tel river, while Niranjan Parmanik of Iswarpur village died while taking bath in river Kharasrota in Jajpur district, police said.

In another incident, Bishnu Gadasara, a school student of Thiaberana village in Sundargarh district, drowned in a pond, police said.

Meanwhile, at least eight youths were injured in a clash between two groups in Baramunda area in the city during Holi celebration here.

Broken beer bottles and stones were used in the clash during which a hotel and a police van were damaged, police said.

Old enmity is suspected to be the reason behind the incident.