Seven minors lost their lives in separate drowning incidents across multiple districts of Odisha on Wednesday, 16 September, with four deaths linked directly to Ganesh idol immersion ceremonies in rivers and ponds. The tragedies unfolded in Sundargarh, Ganjam, and Bhadrak districts, casting a shadow over the festive occasion.

Three Girls Drown in Sundargarh's Sankha River

In the first incident, three minor girls — Gitika Sahoo (6) and Sibika Sahoo (7) of Majhatoli, and Shruti Kumari Sahoo (9) of Dhipapada — drowned in the Sankha River under Raiboga Police limits in Sundargarh district. The girls, along with a minor boy identified as Pratap Sahoo, had gone to the river near their village for a routine bath.

According to the Inspector-in-Charge of Raiboga police station, Dibya Oram, the girls ventured into deeper waters while the river was in spate and were unable to return to safety. The minor boy managed to escape and alerted nearby villagers, who rushed to the spot and pulled the girls out. They were taken to the community health centre at Biramitrapur, where doctors declared all three dead.

Two Students Drown During Idol Immersion in Ganjam's Ghodahada River

In Ganjam district, two Class IX students — Adarsh Sahu and Preetam Sameli — drowned in the Ghodahada River in Hinjili while participating in a Ganesh idol immersion ceremony. The two were part of a group of four students from a private coaching centre who had entered the river to immerse the idol.

According to reports, the two students reportedly slipped into deeper waters during the ceremony. Bystanders managed to rescue the other two students, but the bodies of Adarsh Sahu and Preetam Semeli were subsequently recovered by fire services personnel.

Class VIII Student Drowns in Village Pond at Sidhakhandi

In a separate Ganjam incident, Sitanshu Jena (13), a Class VIII student, drowned in a village pond at Sidhakhandi under Digapahandi police station limits. Locals said Sitanshu and his friends had gone to the pond to immerse a Ganesh idol from their coaching centre. While wading in with the idol, his foot reportedly became trapped in the mud, causing him to lose balance and sink into deep water.

His friends alerted nearby villagers, who conducted a prolonged search before pulling him out unconscious. He was rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Brahmampur, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Bhadrak Student Drowns at Residential School Pond

A fourth immersion-related fatality occurred in Bhadrak district, where a Class IX student, Piyush Das, drowned in a pond near his residential school at Digachia under Chandbali block. He too was participating in the immersion of a Lord Ganesh idol at the time.

Festive Drownings Highlight Recurring Safety Concern

Wednesday's deaths are part of a wider pattern of drowning fatalities that recur each year during the Ganesh Chaturthi immersion period across Odisha and other states. Immersion ceremonies often draw large groups — including children — to rivers, ponds, and other water bodies that may be swollen or deeper than usual during the monsoon season. This year's incidents underline the absence of adequate safety barriers and supervision at immersion sites across the state.

Authorities are expected to face renewed calls for mandatory safety protocols — including designated immersion zones, lifeguard deployment, and restrictions on children entering water bodies during the festival — in the days ahead.