The body of Priyansh Mallik, a 29-year-old finance company sales executive, was recovered near Magurbeda Ghat in Lower Sukhtel River, Bolangir, on Tuesday morning.
Mallik went missing on Sunday while bathing near the Sukhtel Dam during a picnic with colleagues. Eyewitnesses reported that he was swept away by the river’s current. Following the incident, a fire services team launched a search operation that continued for two days without success.
Local villagers from Ghungi spotted a body floating near Magurbeda Ghat early Tuesday and informed the police. Sadar police reached the spot and confirmed the identity with help from Mallik’s family. The ODRAF team recovered the body and sent it for postmortem to Bhima Bhoi Medical College Hospital.
Mallik had visited the dam with fellow finance employees for a weekend outing. The incident occurred near the lower bridge area, where several youths were bathing. His sudden disappearance triggered panic among the group.
Officials confirmed that the body showed no signs of foul play. Sadar IIC Raj Kumar Biswal stated that the postmortem report will provide further clarity. The family, devastated by the loss, identified the body and cooperated with authorities during the recovery process.
The tragic incident has raised concerns about safety measures at popular picnic spots like Sukhtel Dam, which attract large crowds but lack adequate supervision and warning systems.
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