In a dramatic late‑night rescue, the Bongomunda Fire Service team saved two college students who had fallen unconscious after slipping into the Gumpha Dam waterfall near Chhatranga village under Jhurabandh panchayat in Balangir district.
According to reports, four friends from Khariar College in Nuapada district had visited the scenic waterfall located at the foothills of Chhatradandi forest. While bathing, two of them — Debashish Pradhan of Komna and Kahna Dandasena of Timanpur — accidentally slipped nearly 600 metres down into the gorge and lost consciousness.
The other two friends immediately alerted the Bongomunda Fire Service, whose personnel trekked 3 km uphill through dense forest carrying stretchers to reach the victims. The rescue operation, led by OIC Ranjit Kereketta and firefighters Dileshwar Sethia, Ashok Kumar Nayak, Dushmant Majhi, Brusabh Sahu, and Rajkumar Majhi, continued until late at night. Both youths were rescued and admitted to Khariar Hospital in Nuapada district.
Locals said the waterfall attracts many visitors who often take selfies and videos near the edge, leading to frequent accidents. Residents have urged authorities to install warning signs and safety barriers around the site.
