A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Ekadapal village under Baliapal block of Balasore as the body of a young man, Maheshwar Pila, was recovered after being swept away by the swollen Subarnarekha river.
The tragedy occurred while Maheshwar was returning from Jamkunda with medicine for his ailing father on Saturday evening.
Eyewitnesses report that Maheshwar lost footing in the fierce river current and was carried away despite local efforts to rescue him. Following immediate alerts, search operations were initiated, but Maheshwar remained untraceable until the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) recovered his body Sunday.
The retrieval followed timely intervention by Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Basta MLA Subashini Jena, who urged the local administration to act swiftly. The loss has left the entire village in mourning, especially as Maheshwar leaves behind a two-year-old daughter.
Community members and family have appealed to the government for financial and emotional support, underscoring the need for stronger safety infrastructure and emergency services near flood-prone areas.
