In a series of drowning incidents, a young man lost his life in the Mahanadi River, while two others died in the Kuakhai River.
These events highlight the ongoing dangers of bathing or performing daily activities near deep river waters, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures from local authorities and residents.
The first incident occurred near Athagarh in Cuttack district, where 23-year-old Aditya Shekhar Bishoi from Rourkela’s Sector 17 drowned in the Mahanadi River. According to reports, Bishoi had alighted from a Mo Bus at Baunsadanda chhak under Athagarh police station on Tuesday morning. After completing his morning chores in a nearby field, he entered the river for defecation. During this time, his mobile phone and watch slipped into the water. In an attempt to retrieve them, he ventured deeper into the river and drowned due to the strong currents and depth.
Local fishermen and bathers nearby spotted him struggling and quickly initiated a search, pulling him out from the muddy riverbed. He was rushed to the Athagarh sub-divisional government hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police recovered his Aadhaar card and other documents from his bag and pants pocket, which helped identify him and contact his family. As of the time of reporting, family members had not yet arrived, delaying the postmortem examination until Wednesday.
A similar report from Baranga police station’s Godisahi outpost described the same victim drowning at Mundali in the Mahanadi while bathing. Locals rescued him shortly after he submerged, but he was already deceased by the time help arrived.
In a separate but equally alarming event in Bhubaneswar, two young men drowned in the Kuakhai River while bathing after attending a feast. The incident unfolded on Tuesday, drawing immediate response from local residents who alerted the fire services.
Rescue teams arrived promptly, using life rings and other equipment to pull the duo from the water. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they were declared dead.
