A fun outing turned fatal for a first-year ITI student from Sundargarh, Rourkela Sector 6 Bastia, who drowned in the Koel River after falling from a railway bridge near Chhend Colony, Pradhanpalli, on Sunday.
The incident, which occurred while the student was filming a social media reel with friends, has sparked concerns about the dangers of risky online trends among young people.
The deceased, Swadhin Oram, was part of a group of four students who had gone for a walk in the Pradhanpalli area.
According to eyewitnesses, the group decided to create a video reel on the railway bridge spanning the Koel River, a picturesque but precarious location. While holding a mobile phone to capture the moment, the ITI student reportedly lost his balance, slipped, and plummeted into the river below.
Local authorities and bystanders quickly mobilised a rescue operation. Three of the students were successfully pulled from the water, but the ITI student could not be saved. Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the strong currents of the Koel River and the height of the fall contributed to the tragedy.
The incident has reignited debates about the growing trend of filming reels in dangerous locations for social media clout.
