Holy dip on Panchuka turns fatal, two boys go missing in Cuttack’s Kathajodi River

In a tragic incident, two minor boys went missing while taking a holy dip in the Kathajodi river near Khan Nagar, in front of the Netaji Bus Terminal in Cuttack, on Sunday morning. The missing children have been identified as Om Ayush Barik and Om Prakash Maharana, both residents of Bhagatpur Bagala Lane. 

According to reports, the boys had gone to the riverbank along with others to take part in a ‘Panchuka Sankirtan’ ritual. After performing the devotional chanting, they entered the river to take a holy dip. Moments later, they reportedly lost balance and were swept away by the strong current.

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Local residents who witnessed the incident immediately alerted authorities. Fire Services personnel quickly arrived at the spot and began a search and rescue operation, soon joined by an Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team. The rescue teams used boats and diving gear to comb through the river in an intensive effort to locate the children.

Despite several hours of operation, no trace of the boys has been found so far. The search continued late into the evening, with both officials and local volunteers assisting in the mission.

Authorities have urged residents to exercise extreme caution near riverbanks, particularly during the post-monsoon period, when the water flow remains unpredictable and deceptively strong.