Kanwaryia Dies In Sleep At Shiva Temple In Odisha’s Deogarh

Deogarh: A Kanwaryia reportedly died in his sleep on premises of a Shiva temple in Odisha’s Deogarh district where he had gone to pour holy water and offer prayers on the occasion of the first Monday of the auspicious Shravan month.

The incident took place at the famous Jhadeswar temple in the district.  The deceased has been identified as Bibhuti Behera, a resident of Deojharan village under the jurisdiction of Kundheigola police station in the district.

Bibhuti, who was working in a college in Dhenkanal, had visited Deogarh along with 50 others of his village on Sunday to perform ‘Jala Lagi’ ritual at the temple on the first Shravan Somvar today morning. The Kanwariyas collected water from a water body on Sunday and preserved it on premises of the temple for worshipping Lord Shiva this morning.

Bibhuti was taking rest with other Kanwariyas on premises of temple after having food on Sunday night. However, he did not wake up when his fellow Kanwarias called him for Jalabhisek on Shivling this morning. Later, he was taken to hospital where doctors declared him dead.

On getting information, police personnel rushed to the hospital and initiated probe into the incident. The cause of the death of the devotee is yet to be ascertained.