A 32-year-old man exhibiting his swimming skill during chhath festival was drowned in Domuhani, a confuence of rivers Kharkhai and Swarnarekha, in Sonari here today.
The victim, Guljari Sahu, a resident of Bhuiyandih locality, came to participate in the Chhath festival and plunged into the water exhibiting backstroke style, said Officer-in-charge of Sonari Police station, Animesh Gupta.
Gupta, who was supervising the ongoing search operation, said Sahu has crossed river twice before he drowned in his third attempt even though the devotees have warned him from doing so.
The district administration, which has made elaborate security arrangement in view of the Chat festival, swung into action and launched a massive search operation.
Local divers have been pressed into service to trace the body which has not been traced so far, Gupta added.
Meanwhile, the Chhath festival passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from any part of the East Singhbhum district so far.
