A Bol Bom devotee is feared drowned in the Chahata Ghat of river Mahanadi here on Sunday evening. Jagan Behera of Kamhar Sahi here slipped and went missing while he was taking the ritual bath before carrying the sacred water to a nearby Shiva temple.
Police said a massive manhunt was undertaken to trace the missing boy in the river, which is in spate, but all efforts turned futile till late in the evening. Bol Bom Devotees alleged that the local administration had not made adequate arrangements like deployment of fire brigade personnel at the spot though knowing full well that the river was in spate and thousands of devotees have gathered there for carrying sacred water to be poured at Shiva lingas on the Mondays of the holy month of Shravan.