Temple Priest Feared Drowned In Kusabhadra River In Odisha’s Puri

Puri: A young priest priest of a temple is feared to have drowned in overflowing Kusabhadra river in Odisha’s Puri on Sunday.

According to family sources of the priest, identified as Kabiraj Panda of Solapur village under Gop police station, had gone to take bath in Kusabhadra before starting the puja of the deity of Maa Adangei temple. As the temple was not opened nor Kabiraj returned home, his family members went in search of him.

After failing to know his whereabout on enquiring from villagers, the family members went to the banks of the river and found his body floating there. They retrieved Kabiraj’s body and took it to their house.

On being informed, a team from Gop police station went to the village and seized the body. They have sent the bod for post-mortem.

The cause of Kabiraj’s death would be known after getting the post-mortem report, the IIC of the police station said.

Meanwhile, the family members alleged that Kabiraj drowned in the river which is in spate due to heavy rain for the last few days. The priest is survived by his wife and old mother.