India, Sept. 17 -- At least 12 people including six children drowned in six incidents, mostly during the immersion of Ganesh idols in Odisha on Wednesday, police said.

The incidents occurred in Sundergarh, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Koraput districts.

While four youth were swept away in a canal during the Ganesh idol immersion ceremony in Jagatsinghpur district, three girls drowned while collecting sand required for Karma Puja in Sundergarh district.

Fire Services personnel pulled the four men, all in their 20s, out of the water and took them to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead, police said.

The deceased were identified as Manojit Swain, Swapnajit Barik, Rashmiranjan Nayak and Jagannath Palei.

Three girls drowned ...