1 dead, 2 missing in separate drowning incidents in Odisha

Rourkela: A student died while two other persons went missing in separate drowning incidents today in Odisha's Rourkela and Balasore.

A class XII student of Guru Nanak Public School drowned in Koel River at Baikuntha ghat in Rourkela while taking bath in with his two friends today. The deceased has been identified as Debidutta Sahu.

According to reports, Sahu was dragged deep into the waters by strong currents. Other two students were rescued by locals who rushed to the sport after seeing the boys drowning.

"Usually the boys come to the river after playing cricket. One of them slipped and died after drowning while two others were rescued. Though they had not ventured deep into the river, it is suspected that the mishap occurred when they were playing with a ball in the river," said Prakash Chandra Sahu, a local resident.

In another incident, two persons are still missing after they were swept away into the sea by strong currents at Talsari beach near Shankarpur of Balasore district.

Sources said seven persons were taking bath in the sea when three of them drowned. Locals managed to rescue one person while two others are still missing.

Though a massive search operation has been launched by Marine Police, the two missing persons are yet to be traced.