A 24-year-old youth drowned in a pond at Kudapada under Jujumura police limits of Sambalpur district on Friday afternoon, sparking grief in the local community.
The victim, identified as Anand Mirdha, went to bathe in the pond near his village. Witnesses said he suddenly disappeared under the water while bathing. When he failed to return home, family members and villagers searched for him but could not find him.
On Saturday morning, locals spotted his body floating in the pond and immediately informed police. Jujumura fire service personnel and police reached the spot and recovered the body.
Police registered an unnatural death case and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances of the drowning.
