What was meant to be a sacred journey of faith and devotion ended in an unbearable tragedy on Thursday, as a married couple from Andhra Pradesh drowned in the Baitarani River near the Barahanath area in Odisha’s Jajpur district.
The couple had travelled from Andhra Pradesh to Jajpur with deep reverence to seek blessings and have darshan of the revered Goddess Maa Biraja. Seeking a moment of refreshment before or after their temple visit, they went down to the banks of the Baitarani River to take a holy bath.
Tragedy struck when both ventured into deeper waters and began struggling against the strong undercurrents. Alerted by frantic cries for help, local residents immediately informed emergency responders. Fire Services personnel rushed to the scene and managed to pull the couple from the river in critical condition. They were rushed without delay to the Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). However, despite the best efforts of the medical staff, doctors declared them dead upon arrival.
The sudden and heartbreaking demise of the pilgrims has sent shockwaves through the local community, plunging residents and fellow devotees into deep sorrow. What began as a peaceful spiritual retreat transformed into a nightmare, highlighting once again the unpredictable and hidden dangers of unfamiliar rivers and strong currents during religious travels
