Odisha water supply worker goes missing in Ramial river during cleaning work in Dhenkanal

In a tragic turn of events, a water supply department worker went missing while on duty, after accidentally slipping into the Ramial river near Rekula village in Kamakhyanagar, Dhenkanal district. The missing person has been identified as Pradeepta Behera, a resident of Rekula village. 

According to sources, Pradeepta was engaged in cleaning the water control gate of the river near Rekula as part of his departmental duties. While carrying out the cleaning work at around 8 am, he reportedly lost his balance and fell into the river.

The incident occurred in the presence of some of his co-workers and local residents, who immediately tried to rescue him but failed. They promptly informed the Kamakhyanagar Fire Department, which rushed a rescue team to the spot. 

Despite several hours of intense search operations by fire personnel and locals, no trace of the missing worker has been found so far, sources added.

Locals say the river current was strong due to recent rains, which may have swept the youth away. The incident has triggered shock and concern in the area. Many have raised questions about the lack of safety measures and protective gear for workers engaged in hazardous tasks like river gate cleaning.

The search operation is still underway. Further updates are awaited.

Though the department's engineer was contacted multiple times, he was unavailable for comment.