Years after elder sister’s death, high school girl missing after jumping to Mahanadi river in Sambalpur

In a shocking incident, a Class IX girl student, on her way to school, jumped into the Mahanadi river in Sambalpur for reasons yet to be known. The missing student has been identified as Kajal Sahani. Shockingly, Kajal’s elder sister Kabita had also died a similar death after getting drowned as a child.

On being informed, Fire Services personnel and local police rushed to the spot to launch a rescue operation. However, Kajal is missing in the waterbody during the filing of this report.

According to sources, like any other day, Kajal left for school Saturday morning. However, she did not go the school. A few eyewitnesses spotted her jumping into the Mahanadi river. She left behind her school bag and cycle before taking the extreme step.

The reason for her extreme step is yet to be ascertained. Family members revealed that there was no fight or any such thing between them. 

“I was jogging here. I have seen the girl with her cycle. Before I could understand anything, she kept her cycle and jumped into the river,” said an eyewitness. “I could not do anything. Even as I screamed for her to stop from jumping, she jumped into the waterbody,” he added.

“She bought two biscuits and ate one before leaving for school. She was studying in Class IX. Nothing as such had happened in the family for her to take the drastic step. There was no fight, nothing. I even told her not to go to school as it was raining,” her wailing mother as she cried inconsolably.

Similarly, her father said, “She told me she was going to school. She did not have a raincoat, so I asked her not to go to school today. I sell gupchup for a living, nothing has happened in the family. The school is answerable to this.”