Bhawanipatna, Mar 4: A 65-year-old man drowned in an irrigation canal on Tuesday evening while reportedly taking a holy dip following the lunar eclipse.

The deceased has been identified as Subash Das of Chachiguda village under Anlabhata Panchayat in Jayapatna Block. According to reports, Das had gone to a nearby canal after the eclipse, believing that bathing at that time would help him attain salvation. He was allegedly swept away by the strong current of the canal.

On Wednesday morning, canal workers spotted a body floating in the water and alerted local residents. Kokasara police and fire brigade personnel were subsequently informed. The fire services team reached the spot and recovered the body from the canal.

The body was later sent to Kokasara hospital for post-mortem examination. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and initiated an investigation into the incident.