Probe ordered into Jobra drowning case

Cuttack: District collector Nirmal Mishra today ordered for an administrative probe into the drowning incident in which four students of Ravenshaw University met watery grave while taking bath in Mahanadi river near Jobra barrage yesterday.

"A three-member committee would find out the circumstances for which such mishaps are occurring repeatedly in these areas and suggest measures to arrest recurrence of these unfortunate incidents," Mishra said.

The Committee has also been asked to find out as to how the riverside inhabitants would be affected if bathing is banned at the potentially dangerous locations like near barrages and spurs.

Headed by Cuttack ADM, the committee comprises the executive engineers of Jobra Barrage Division and Mahanadi (south) irrigation division. The Committee has been asked to submit its report within two weeks, the district collector said.

Notably, five students of Ravenshaw University had gone for a bath in Mahanadi river near the barrage around 3.30 pm yesterday. Four of them drowned while another had a brush with death.

The accident occurred when one of them slipped into the deep water while others were trapped in the strong current of the river as they tried to rescue their friend.

The deceased have been identified as Sahanwaz Khan, Devi Prasad, Pyarimohan Pradhan and Priti Ranjan Das. One was rescued by the local fishermen.