TV
A youth went missing after being swept away at the Garjan Khol waterfall in Nagira panchayat under Pallahara sub-division on Friday. The incident took place around 11 am when Lipun Behera, a resident of Balrai village in Keonjhar, visited the waterfall with two friends.
According to reports, the trio had entered the waters to bathe when the strong current caused by recent rains pulled Lipun off balance. Although they were in the upper section of the waterfall, he was dragged into the deep pool at the base and disappeared.
Friends Allege Phone Lost While Filming Videos
The two friends accompanying Lipun revealed that they had gone to the waterfall to shoot videos for social media. They said that in the chaos of the incident, they also lost the mobile phone they were using to record. After the mishap, both friends, along with local residents, searched for Lipun but were unable to locate him.
Rescue Operations Hampered By Depth
The Bansapal fire service team rushed to the spot and launched a search operation but was unable to trace the missing youth by Friday evening. On Saturday, personnel from both the Pallahara and Bansapal fire stations began a joint search, with help from locals. However, the effort has been severely hampered by the depth of the pool at the base of the waterfall. The search was still underway at the time of reporting.
Waterfall Considered Unsafe During Monsoon
Locals said they generally avoid visiting waterfalls during the monsoon due to the dangerously strong currents. The Garjan Khol waterfall, located in a remote forest area, was discovered only about two years ago. With no proper roads or official recognition from the state tourism department, there are no safety measures or warning signs at the site.
‘Social Media Craze Driving Risky Behaviour’
Residents also expressed concern that young people frequently visit such remote, unsafe spots without safety precautions, motivated by the craze of creating videos and photos for social media. They warned that this reckless trend often leads to dangerous and sometimes tragic situations
