Odisha man stranded in surging river for 24 hours! Rescued by chopper

Irma Sodi, a resident of Kotamateru village in Odisha, was dramatically rescued after being stranded for nearly 24 hours on a rock in the middle of the surging Saberi River. His boat had capsized near Malkangiri while returning from Chhattisgarh. A joint rescue effort by CRPF, police, and fire services, aided by a helicopter, saved his life. The man had lost all hope.

Odisha man stranded in surging river for 24 hours! Rescued by chopper

Helicopter in use during the rescue operation in Malkangiri

time

A man named Irma Sodi from Kotamateru village was stranded for around 24 hours on a rock in the middle of the Saberi River in Malkangiri district. However, a joint team comprising CRPF, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha Police personnel rescued the man with the help of a helicopter on Monday afternoon.

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According to sources, the man was returning from Sukma in neighbouring Chhattisgarh in a country-made boat when the vessel capsized due to the river’s surging water.

The fatal mishap occurred near the Matapaka panchayat under the Malkangiri police limits.

In a desperate attempt to save himself, Irma had clung to a tree and later managed to climb onto a rock mid-river, where he had remained trapped since then. The powerful current and rising water levels made it extremely difficult to conduct the rescue operations.

This morning, some locals informed the fire services after receiving the news.

Both Malkangiri and Sukma fire services personnel were engaged in a joint rescue mission, with support from the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police. The operation was carried out under challenging conditions, struggling against nature’s force, and the man was fortunately brought to safety.

“Despite the best efforts of fire service personnel, the rescue was severely delayed due to the dangerous flow of the river. Efforts continue with utmost urgency as the man remains exposed and stranded in the river's midst,” an official at the scene said.

Irma had gone to Chhattisgarh for personal work, but spent nearly 24 hours without food and water following the boat capsize. He had lost hope and was in a fearful condition.

After being rescued, Irma was taken to a hospital in Chhattisgarh for medical care. The health condition of the man is stable now, a doctor treating him informed.

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