Women helplessly stuck in middle of river in Odisha after flash flood

A sudden rise in the water level of the Baitarani River led to a dramatic rescue operation on Friday, after five women and over 50 goats were stranded in the middle of the river.

The incident occurred near Ambagaon Mela Padia under Hatadihi block in Naichhanpur village, where a group of women had taken their goats for grazing. Unexpectedly, the water from the river surged, surrounding the area and leaving them trapped.

Locals alerted the authorities, and after several hours, fire service personnel arrived at the scene and successfully rescued all five women along with the goats. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

“We were grazing our goats. As there was less water, we thought we could cross the river easily. However, there was a flash flood, and within seconds, we and our goats were in knee-deep water. Fortunately, we were rescued on time,” informed a rescued woman.

Officials have attributed the sudden water rise to upstream rainfall. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious while venturing near rivers during the monsoon season.