In a tragic incident, a 12-year-old minor boy was swept away by strong current while sailing a miniature boat in Brahmani river on the occasion of holy Kartika Purnima near Bhuban in Dhenkanal district on Friday morning.
The missing boy has been identified as Roshan Nayak of Latabila Sahi village.
The fire service personnel have launched a search operation to trace the minor boy.
As per reports, Roshan was a class-IX student. After sailing the miniature boat in the river he went on to take a holy bath. However, he was soon swept away by the strong current of the river.
Local people, who were assembled nearby to sail boats in the river, tried their best to trace the boy but in vain.
Upon being informed, fire fighting personnel reached the spot immediately and launched a rescue operation.
The rescue operation is still underway at the time of reporting.
Notably, people in large numbers were seen sailing miniature boats and taking holy dip in rivers across the State on the occasion of holy Kartika Purnima despite the restrictions imposed by several district administrations on congregations at temples, river ghats and water bodies.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)