SAMBALPUR/MALKANGIRI: A picnic outing turned tragic for a teenage student who reportedly went missing in the power drain under Burla police limits in Sambalpur on Sunday.
The missing youth was identified as 17-year-old Swastik Padhi, a Plus Two student of a private college in Bhubaneswar. A native of Sambalpur, Swastik had returned home during the holidays.
Sources said Swastik visited the Athara Hajar power channel along with a group of friends for a picnic. On his way out, he allegedly entered the electrical conduit for a bathroom and was electrocuted after losing his footing.
After the notification, the fire brigade and the police of Burla went to the scene and started the search operation. However, rescue efforts were hampered by the strong flow of water in the canal.
Despite efforts, the student was still not traced till the latest reports. Search operations will resume on Monday. In Malkangiri, a 23-year-old youth reportedly drowned while bathing in Sorlukonda barrage under Potteru Irrigation Project near Balimela on Sunday. The deceased is Anup Dhar of MV-36 under Somnathpur panchayat.
Sources said that Anup along with his family members and some villagers had gone to the barrage to bathe in the afternoon. When they were bathing, a strong current reportedly swept through the area of the eruption. Anup got trapped in a deep part between the rocks and drowned in front of his family members.
After receiving the information, police and firemen from Orkel went to the scene. After a long search, Anup’s body was recovered from the water. The dead body has been seized for death.
