Ahmedabad: While Holi and Dhulendi celebrations were underway across the country and Gujarat, several drowning incidents across the state turned the festive day into tragedy, with at least 23 people losing their lives in separate incidents while bathing in rivers, ponds and canals after playing with colours.

Among the incidents reported from across the state, three youths drowned in Surat district’s Mangrol taluka, while two minor cousins died in Aravalli district’s Malpur taluka, according to local authorities.

In Surat district’s Mangrol taluka, three youths drowned in the Kim river near Pansara village. According to reports, the youths had been celebrating Dhulendi since morning and later went to the nearby river to wash off colours.

While bathing, the three accidentally ventured into deep water and drowned. Local residents and swimmers rushed to the spot after hearing cries for help.

The deceased have been identified as Chandrabhushan Singh, Happy Singh and Sanjay Dhanji Mangukiya. Fire brigade personnel and Kosamba police recovered the bodies after a search operation. Police said two of the deceased were migrants while one was a local resident. A case of accidental death has been registered and further investigation is underway.

In another incident, two minor cousins drowned in a village pond in Nava (Jambu Fali) village of Malpur taluka in Aravalli district.

The victims, Raychand Damor and Jaimin Damor, were students of Classes 5 and 6. After playing Dhulendi, they went to the village pond to wash off colours but slipped into deep water and drowned.

A team from the Modasa Fire Brigade recovered the bodies and handed them over to police. Malpur police have sent the bodies for post-mortem at the Community Health Centre and initiated further investigation.

Meanwhile, several other drowning incidents were reported across Gujarat during Dhulendi celebrations. According to reports, four youths drowned in the Sabarmati river near Kubernagar in Ahmedabad, while three children died after drowning in a pond in Sitapur village of Mandal taluka in Ahmedabad district.

Additional incidents were reported in Mahisagar (2 deaths), Bardoli in Surat district (4 deaths), Dhanusura in Aravalli district (2 deaths), Mehsana (2 deaths), and Kadi and Amreli (one death each), where people drowned while bathing in water bodies after playing with colours.

Authorities have repeatedly appealed to people to exercise caution and avoid entering deep water in rivers, canals or ponds during festive celebrations. DeshGujarat