Rourkela: Minor Boy Drowns in Koel River

Community Calls for Greater Awareness and Safety Measures

In a heartbreaking incident at Rourkela, a minor boy tragically lost his life by drowning in the Koel River, near the Pump House area of Koel Nagar, where two friends had ventured out in the afternoon to bathe and play in the river.

The deceased minor has been identified as Satyajeet Behera, a student of Guru Nanak Public School in Rourkela.

Witness accounts reveal that the boys unknowingly drifted into a deeper section of the river. While one struggled to save his friend, the increasing water depth made it impossible to rescue him. Alerted by their cries for help, locals from the nearby Jhiripani village retrieved the boy’s body and informed authorities. Despite immediate efforts to take him to Ispat General Hospital (IGH), doctors declared him deceased on arrival.

The tragedy has left the boy’s family and the community devastated. The body has been preserved at the IGH morgue for post-mortem.

This incident has sparked widespread discussions about the pressing need for improved safety measures in such areas. Many locals have pointed out the recurring nature of similar accidents at this location, urging authorities to install warning signs, deploy lifeguards, and create greater awareness among young children about water safety.