Six dead in Holi revelry in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - The festival of Holi Monday turned into tragedy for some in Orissa where six people died, three due to drowning and three more due to drinking spurious liquor. Six others had to be hospitalised after using poisonous gulal powder.

Three youths were drowned while bathing in the Ib river near Semena village in Sundergarh district soon after celebrating Holi, a police official told IANS.

In a separate incident, at least three people died and five more were hospitalized after consuming spurious liquor at Nanpur village in Cuttack district, he said.

The celebration turned into tragedy for Priyabrata Mohanty, 25, when he poured coloured water on his friend near Dobandhi village in the district of Kendrapada.

Instead of reciprocating, his friend Pintu Dalei in sudden rage poured petrol on him and set him on fire. Priyabrata has suffered more than 50 percent burn injuries, police said.

The injured was first admitted to the district government hospital at Kendrapada. Later, he was shifted to the Sri Ram Chandra Bhanjna Medical College and hospital at Cuttack, some 26 km from here.

In another incident, at least six people had to be hospitalised after the coloured powder gulal they used to smear on each other turned out to be poisonous at Santaragadia village in Balasore district.