News from Bhardak

Tension prevailed in Basudevpur under the Chudamani Marine Police limits of Bhadrak district after a 9-year-old girl was allegedly abducted on Saturday evening. Over 12 hours since the incident, the child remains untraceable.

A tragic road accident in Odisha’s Ganjam district claimed the lives of two youths after their bike collided with a van in Digapahandi. In a separate incident in Bhadrak, a car caught fire on NH-16, though all passengers escaped safely. These back-to-back mishaps have reignited concerns over road safety and emergency preparedness in the State.

In a devastating incident, a massive fire reduced a family’s house and possessions to ashes in Bahu village under Chandbali block of Bhadrak district on Wednesday, destroying valuables worth lakhs and shattering preparations for a daughter’s upcoming wedding.

For the third time this year, floodwaters of the Baitarani river have wreaked havoc in Bhadrak district, leaving residents of Dhamnagar block reeling under severe distress. Continuous swelling of the river has submerged vast areas, crippling normal life for the past two days.

Gau rakshaks intercepted a pickup van illegally transporting 12 cows on NH-16 near Nalanga, Bhadrak, vandalised it, and set it ablaze, causing panic and police investigation.

IAS officer Dilip Routrai conducted a public grievance hearing in Bhadrak, Odisha, under mobile phone torchlight due to power cuts, ensuring public complaints were addressed.

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is set to bring heavy rains to Odisha for three days, with orange alerts in Koraput and Malkangiri districts.

A Plus 3 first-year student, Pushparani Mallick, was found hanging in a private mess bathroom in Bhadrak, sparking police investigation and raising concerns over student safety. Bhadrak SP Manoj Kumar Rout has assured that a thorough and transparent probe will be conducted. Post-mortem examinations will be crucial in determining the timeline and nature of the death.

Bhadrak Police launched a crackdown on bikes with modified silencers, seizing and destroying over 250 units to combat noise pollution, with a fine of Rs 10,000 for each violator. The drive will be intensified in the days ahead, and police will also take action against those who are using mobile phones while driving. This initiative has been widely appreciated by the residents.

Bankamuha Harijan Sahi in Bhadrak district, Odisha, thrives on a unique no-doors tradition, attributing safety to their village deity's protection. Despite modernity, faith remains their strongest lock.

Akhil Biswas, a 57-year-old boatman from Chandbali, Bhadrak, is famed for his five-foot-long mustache, which he cherishes as his greatest treasure and a symbol of identity. Akhil wears his moustache in different styles—sometimes curling it around his ears, and other times letting it fall in a plait-like fashion behind his head. When untied, it reaches to his abdomen.

The Baitarani River has exceeded the danger mark near Akhuapada anicut, flooding villages in Bhadrak district, disrupting lives and damaging crops. Rescue operations are underway.

Four more bodies missing from Maninathpur cremation ground in Bhadrak, Odisha, raising suspicions of an organ trafficking racket and local outrage over police inaction.

The Ministry of Railways sanctions Rs 149.32 crore for a 5.06 km fourth line between Ranital and Bhadrak to decongest the Howrah-Chennai corridor, following an Rs 802.9 crore approval for Cuttack-Nergundi upgrades.

Kartik Chandra Padhi was stabbed while mediating an electric vehicle dispute near Charampa School Road, Bhadrak. The altercation began over vibrations from starting the vehicle, escalating into violence. Kartik is stable; police are investigating.