Rourkela: In a tragic incident, at least three minor boys were drowned while taking bath in River Koel at Jhiripani picnic spot near Rourkela in Sundargarh district Wednesday afternoon.
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According to sources, the minor boys who were below the age of 12 had gone to the river in the afternoon to take bath. While bathing, they slipped deep into the water and drowned.
Identities of the deceased minors have not been ascertained yet.
On being informed, a team of fire personnel rushed to the mishap site. After a frantic search, bodies of the three boys were fished out from the river near Bhatapada ghat by fire-fighting personnel. Their clothes and slippers were found lying near the ghat.
Jhiripani police seized the bodies of the three deceased and sent them to Rourkela Government Hospital for post-mortem.
Police have registered a case in this connection and launched a probe. The police has been trying to find out circumstances leading to the untimely death of the three minor boys, a police official said.
Notably, two youths had gone missing while bathing in River Koel at Teterakela area January 10.
PNN