A tragic incident unfolded in Talcher Town of Angul district when three friends drowned while bathing in the Brahmani River near Akhandalamani temple.
Seven youths had entered the river, but three were swept away in deep water.
Local residents raised an alarm after spotting the drowning youths. Rescue efforts managed to pull out one victim, identified as Ganesh Gochayat, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital. Two others, Shakti Sahu and Prince Luhar, remain missing.
Police confirmed that all three victims belonged to the Talcher station area. The sudden accident shocked the community, drawing crowds to the riverbank as search operations began.
The Talcher fire brigade launched a rescue mission to trace the missing youths. Teams are combing the river with boats and divers, working tirelessly to locate Shakti and Prince. Officials said the search would continue until both are found.
