2 Children Drown in Bansadhara River near Minajhola Shaivite shrine in Rayagada

Rayagada: Two children drowned in the Bansadhara River near the Minajhola Shaivite shrine in Chandrapur, Rayagada district on Monday.

The victims have been identified as nine-year-old Ratnakar Badanayak and ten-year-old Smruti, both hailing from Srirampur village in the neighboring Kandhamal district.

The incident occurred when the children were part of a group paying their respects to the presiding deity at the shrine. The shrine is located amidst the river and attracts a significant number of devotees, drawing them to perform the revered Jalabhishek rituals.

Local fire services personnel and the ODRAF were alerted and launched a search operation, but the children were not found. The search operation is ongoing.

The incident has caused a great deal of sadness and grief in the community. The families of the victims have requested the authorities to do everything possible to find the children.