Patnagarh: A Class VIII student drowned in Sialbandh village under this police limits in Bolangir district Tuesday while he was taking part in a Ganesh idol immersion procession.
The deceased was identified as Rupananda Sa (13), a student of Sialbandh Upper Primary School.
He along with his classmates Niranjan Poda, Bablu Behera, Alok Nayak, Debashis Sandha and Shiv Sa had gone to immerse the idol. However, Rupananda slipped into a water body and drowned.
Locals rescued Rupananda and rushed him to Patnagarh hospital where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’.
Meanwhile, the villagers and the father of the student blamed the school authorities for Rupananda’s death.
Rupananda died as none of the teachers accompanied the students during the immersion, alleged the villagers.
Later, they placed the body at Ramji Chhak in the town and blocked the road demanding action against the guilty.
A police team led by IIC Barini Das and assistant Collector Padmanav Purohit reached the spot and promised action against those responsible for the mishap. Following this, the blockade was withdrawn.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and started a probe.
PNN