Bhubaneswar: At least eight persons died while 17 others sustained injuries in separate incidents of drowning, road accident and group clash across Odisha during the celebration of Holi today.

Sujit Das (43) and his cousin Chinmaya Das (24) of Moosadiha village under Keshapur panchayat in Kendrapara district drowned in Brahmani river while taking bath after Holi celebrations in the afternoon, sources said.

Similarly, a youth at Kandhapalipada village under Bolangir Town police limit in Bolangir district met with watery grave while bathing in a pond after the celebration. A minor girl of Andara village in Balasore district also drowned in a river while taking bath in the afternoon, sources said.

A youth went missing in Mahanadi river near Choudwar in Cuttack district after he ventured into deep water while bathing with friends soon after Holi celebration.

Similarly, a villager of Buhala under Nischintakoili block under Cuttack district and a minor boy of Taratara village in Keonjhar went missing while taking bath after celebrating Holi with friends, sources said.

On the other hand, two persons were killed in separate incidents of road mishap at CRP Square area of Bhubaneswar and Jaripatna near the capital city during the Holi celebrations.

Moreover, a youth died and two others sustained grievous injuries when their bike collided with a tree in Binjharpur area of Jajpur district today.

Chintamani Behera of Mundasahi under Tigiria police limits in Cuttack district was killed when a group of villagers attacked him with sharp weapons over past enmity during Holi celebration. Behera’s wife and daughter also sustained critical injuries in the incident, sources said.

At least three youths sustained injuries when some miscreants attacked them during Holi celebration at Chilipokhari under Badagada police limit in Bhubaneswar, sources added.

At least 12 persons were injured in a clash between the villagers of Saraswati Nagar in Khurda district and Gangadharpur under Gadishagada police limit in Puri district over some issues during Holi celebration today.