Boita Bandana festivals turned tragic in Rayagada district on Tuesday when two persons drowned in a river at two separate places while sailing boat miniatures.
Suman Behera, an engineering student of the UGMIT in the district, had gone to river Nagabali near Jhulapola for Boita Bandana with his friends, during which he slipped and fell into the water body. His friends tried to rescue him but in vain. Later, Fire Services personnel reached the spot and recovered his body from the river.
In the other incident, one Santosh Jena had gone to river Vansadhara near Gumuda in the Gunupur area of the district with his family members. While sailing a boat miniature, he slipped into deep waters and met watery grave.