Six kids drowned in Odisha

Kids drowned in Odisha, while celebrating Karthika Purnima

BHUBANESWAR: As many as nine, including six kids, drowned in separate incidents in Odisha, during the celebration of Kartika Purnima, on Wednesday, said police sources.

Two brothers drowned in Balasore district while trying to collect tiny boats in Badabhanga village, under Khantapada police limits.

Two baby girls drowned in Genguti river at Shankuntalapur village of Jajpur district, after they slipped into the river, while trying to float tiny boats to celebrate Kartik Purnima, said IIC Badachana Umakant Nayak.

In a similar incident, a boy child met a watery grave in Chapali canal in Mahakalapada while collecting paper boats in Kendrapara district; while in an another incident, a four-year-old drowned in a pond in Khamala in Derabish area in the district said police.

In another incident, two women and a girl child drowned in Ib river when a boat capsized near Khait village in Jharsuguda district.

Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, known as ‘Boita Bandana’ is celebrated across the state. People float small miniature boats, with lamps, betel leaves, fruits and coins in the wee hours in various water bodies.