Minor girl goes missing in Mahanadi in Cuttack district, 3 others rescued

A tragic drowning incident was reported from Kaimundi village under Pathapur panchayat in Banki police limits of Cuttack district, where a minor girl went missing in the Mahanadi River on Sunday morning.

Sources reported that the mishap occurred when four children, comprising one boy and three girls, had gone to bathe in the river, accompanied by their grandfather. All four were swept away by the current.

The grandfather, along with help from local villagers and a nearby boatman, managed to rescue three of the children. Unfortunately, one of the girls went missing and has not yet been traced. The rescued children were immediately shifted to the Banki Sub-Divisional Hospital for medical treatment.

Fire Services Begin Search Operation

Following the incident, the local fire brigade was alerted. A team from the Fire Services Department reached the spot and launched a search operation to trace the missing girl. However, the absence of a functional power boat delayed the start of a full-scale rescue operation. This led to visible frustration among locals, who confronted the fire officials over the delay.

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Villagers Demand Urgent Action

Eyewitnesses and residents of Kaimundi expressed their anger over the lack of preparedness, especially the unavailability of proper equipment like powerboats at such a crucial time. Several villagers have now joined the ongoing search operation, scouring the riverbanks and nearby stretches of the Mahanadi on their own.

As of the latest reports, the girl remains missing, and the rescue operation continues with villagers and fire service personnel working in coordination.