Minor boy dies after being swept away in Baitarani River

Jajpur: A 14-year-old boy, who along with her mother was swept away in Baitarani River near Bandal village of Jajpur district, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

According to sources, the deceased along with his mother was swept away by the river current while taking bath today morning.

The mother-son duo was rescued by locals. However, the boy was in critical condition following which locals rushed him to Jajpur Town Medical, where he breathed his last.

Multiple drowning cases have been reported in the past one month from across the state.

On May 31, two minor girls drowned to death while taking bath in a pond at Gajrajpur village under Rajkanika block of Kendrapara district.

Similarly, as many as four girls drowned in two separate incidents in Khurda and Koraput districts on May 28.

As per Odisha government statistics, 1,292 drowning deaths have been registered between 2015-16 and 2017-18. While 246 cases of drowning were reported in 2015-16, it went up to 428 in 2016-17 and 618 in 2017-18.

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