The toll in the Kharasrota river tragedy in Jajpur district rose to six as a body of another youth was recovered on Sunday by ODRAF personnel during search operations.

Notably, seven youths were swept away in the Kharasrota river on Saturday while they were taking bath after Holi celebrations at Badasuanar village under the Sadar police station in the district.

While one of them was rescued and admitted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, others went missing. The bodies of the six persons were later fished out of the river.

The rescued youth Amit Jena was discharged from the hospital at night.

Besides, six more persons died while taking bath after Holi celebrations in separate places in the State. 

While two youths drowned in the Indravati river near Bania Ghat under Kotpad police station of Koraput district, one lost his life after drowning in Mahanadi river near Korua Ghat in Cuttack.

Similarly, another person died after drowning in a pond at Haridagotha under the town police station of Keonjhar. 

The two youths taking bath at Bania Ghat of Indravati accidentally slipped into the deeper current of the river. They could not swim out of the river and drowned. 

Local residents soon informed the police and fire service personnel were immediately pressed into service to conduct rescue operations. 

After search, the rescue team managed to recover the bodies of the duo. They were shifted to Kotpad Community Health Centre where the doctors declared the duo dead. 

In another incident, two youths drowned in Bheden river near Kuchinda in Sambalpur district while taking bath after celebrating Holi.

 Police identified the deceased as Mukesh Yadav (20) and Kailash Kumar (19). Both of them were natives of Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh, who worked as construction labourers in Kuchinda.