Police recovered the decomposed body of a middle-aged man from a drain in Basanti Colony, Rourkela, on Thursday.
Residents spotted the body near a bridge construction site close to Kumharpada, beside Bihar Bhavan. The condition of the clothes and belongings suggested the man lived in poverty and had no support system. The discovery drew a crowd of locals who gathered at the scene.
Udit Nagar police reached the location around 5 p.m. and began an investigation. Officers moved the body into custody for further examination. They confirmed that the exact cause of death remains unclear.
Preliminary observations indicated extreme heat could have contributed to the man’s death. However, officials emphasised that only a postmortem report and identification of the deceased will establish the real cause.
Authorities continue their inquiry while awaiting medical confirmation.
