A joyous Rath Yatra celebration in Anaharpur village, under Bhawanpur Panchayat in Bhadrak district’s Dhamnagar police station limits, turned tragic on Friday night when a DJ vehicle overturned, killing a 12-year-old boy and injuring over five others. The deceased, identified as Dhana (a nickname), was the son of Lt Shora Rout from Anaharpur village.
The incident occurred around 10:30 PM during the chariot procession in the village bazaar. The DJ vehicle, brought from Bengal for the festival, lost balance and toppled while the village was immersed in the Rath Yatra festivities. The boy, who had come to witness the procession, was trapped under the vehicle. Locals managed to lift the DJ box and rush him to Dhamnagar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that Dhana’s father had passed away unexpectedly just eight months prior, plunging the family into further grief.
The Dhamnagar police arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and whether the DJ operator had obtained necessary permissions to perform during the event. The incident has cast a pall of sorrow over the local community, with residents mourning the loss of the young boy.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to ensure no one else remains trapped, and further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.\
