Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Six Drownings Kill Five Minors During Odisha Rituals
Six people died in three separate drowning incidents in Odisha on Wednesday.
Five of those who died were minor students.
Three girls drowned in the Shankha river while collecting sand for a Karma Puja ritual.
Two students drowned during a Ganesh idol immersion in the Ghodahada river.
Another Class VIII student drowned in a pond during an immersion organized by his tuition class.
Local people rescued some of the victims and took them to medical centers.
Doctors declared all six dead.
Police are investigating the incidents, and one family has raised concerns about supervision during the ritual.
Six people, including five minor students, drowned in three separate incidents in Odisha on Wednesday.
Three minor girls drowned in the Shankha river in Sundargarh district while collecting sand for Karma Puja.
Two students drowned in the Ghodahada river in Ganjam district during a Ganesh idol immersion.
A Class VIII student, Sitanshu Jena, drowned in a pond at Sidhikhandi village during another Ganesh immersion.
Police registered an unnatural death case or began investigations in the Ganjam incidents, while one family questioned the absence of a tuition teacher.
- Who
- Six people died, including five minor students; the victims included three girls, two students in the Ghodahada incident, and Class VIII student Sitanshu Jena.
- What
- The six victims drowned in three separate incidents linked to Karma Puja preparations and Ganesh idol immersions.
- When
- The incidents occurred on Wednesday.
- Where
- The drownings occurred in the Shankha river in Sundargarh district, the Ghodahada river in Ganjam district, and a pond at Sidhikhandi village in Ganjam district, Odisha.
- Why
- The victims reportedly entered or attempted to cross water during ritual-related activities; police are investigating the exact circumstances.
Family's Supervision Concern
Police Investigation
Responsibility during the immersion
Family's Supervision Concern
Sitanshu Jena's family reportedly alleged that the tuition teacher was not present during the immersion organized by the private tuition class.
Police Investigation
Police sent the body for post-mortem and began an investigation; the article does not report a final finding about responsibility.
- Deaths
- Six people, including five minor students
- Incidents
- Three separate drowning incidents
- Districts
- Sundargarh and Ganjam
- Rituals involved
- Karma Puja preparations and Ganesh idol immersions
- First incident
- Three girls drowned in the Shankha river while collecting sand
- Second incident
- Two students drowned during immersion in the Ghodahada river
- Third incident
- Class VIII student Sitanshu Jena drowned in a pond at Sidhikhandi village