Bhubaneswar, March 4: In a tragic turn of events in Odisha, at least 11 people lost their lives in drowning leaving a few others missing during the Holi celebration on Wednesday.

In Jajpur district, two separate incidents claimed two lives. A minor drowned in the Brahmani River at Digambarpur while bathing.

In another incident under the Jajpur Road police station limits, a youth drowned in the Kharasrota river while bathing with friends following Holi celebrations.

Another case of drowning was reported from the Badamba area in Cuttack, where a minor drowned while bathing after enjoying Holi.

In another incident, a youth lost his life after drowning in the Puri Main Canal near Madhuban village under Barang police limits.

Two more deaths related to Holi mishaps were reported from Champua in Keonjhar district and Jagatsinghpur district in the evening. adding to the rising number of tragic incidents during the festival.

Meanwhile, in Kendrapara district’s Aul area, a youth went missing after being swept away by the strong current of the Kharasrota river. Search efforts are underway to trace him.

The festival of colours ended in sorrow in Nayagarh after a man and his son reportedly went missing in water while bathing in the village pond.

Apart from it, a few swept away cases have been reported with a number of youths missing so far.