The lifeless body of a 45-year-old woman, identified as Padmabati Sahu, was recovered from an old well near the Kharda Chhak under the Tushura police station limits.
According to reports, Padmabati had gone missing early in the morning while out for her usual walk. Growing increasingly concerned, her husband, Manoj Sahu, along with family members and local relatives, launched an extensive search across the area.
The grim discovery came to light when a villager went to draw water and attempted to lower a motor pipe into the well, only to spot a body floating inside. Realising the tragic reality, Manoj Sahu immediately alerted the local Tushura police and the fire services department.
Promptly responding to the call, a team from the Gudvhela Fire Station, operating under police supervision, successfully retrieved the body from the well. The Tushura police seized the mortal remains, registered an unnatural death case, and dispatched the body to the Balangir hospital for an autopsy. Authorities stated that the exact cause of death will be officially confirmed following the post-mortem report, which will guide the ongoing investigation.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Padmabati had suffered severe burn injuries roughly six months ago when her saree caught fire while cooking. Her family had rushed her to a hospital in Rourkela, where she underwent plastic surgery and showed gradual signs of recovery. However, after returning home from Rourkela and spending two to three months recuperating, she reportedly began showing signs of losing her mental balance. Local accounts suggest that she may have tragically jumped into the well due to her deteriorating mental health, though police continue to investigate all angles.
