News from Odisha

A young couple, Bharat Behera and Kanakalata Behera, from Patarajpur village in Jajpur district, Odisha, who had a love marriage two years ago, allegedly consumed poison under mysterious circumstances. Both are in critical condition at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. As of now, the exact reason behind their decision to consume poison remains unknown.

Three young men drowned in separate incidents at Chandrabhaga Beach, Puri, with two near Eco Retreat and another nearby, all swept by strong currents.

Unauthorised online sale of Puri Jagannath Temple's sacred Abadha Mahaprasad sparks outrage among devotees, with items like Anna rice and Khechudi being marketed illegally, raising questions on authenticity and SJTA's silence. Adding fuel to the controversy, Items such as Anna (rice), Dali (dal), and Kanika (sweet rice) are being marketed with price tags ranging from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 per package.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Rs 280 crore Shaheed Laxman Naik Medical College in Koraput, a 650-bed facility aimed at enhancing regional healthcare and reducing travel for advanced treatments.

25-year-old Trupti Nayak found dead under suspicious circumstances at her in-laws' home in Bhubaneswar's Mancheswar; husband Bikram Nayak arrested for murder following family allegations.

BJP National VP Baijayant Panda pledges financial support for Tulasi Women's College's infrastructure expansion during its 47th Foundation Day, emphasising women's empowerment through education. Panda underscored the importance of women’s empowerment in driving overall social progress. He announced his commitment to extend financial assistance from his LAD fund for the college’s infrastructure projects.

A BeMC team raided sweet shops in Berhampur to check for adulteration and hygiene, destroying over 50 kg of stale sweets ahead of Rakhi Purnima.

Pramod Behera, accused in the mysterious death of a Pattamundai Plus-3 student, was arrested by Kendrapara police. Obscene videos and photos were recovered from his phone, adding a sinister twist to the case.

A gas cylinder explosion in Angul's Kulada village critically injured Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, his wife Ratnamanjari, and son Vignesh. The late-night blast led to a fire, with neighbours and emergency services responding swiftly.

A neighbourhood dispute in Cuttack's Bidanasi Nuasahi turned violent when Gobinda Malik attacked Sukadev Dalei and his wife Sujata Bhatt with a knife, leaving them critically injured. Both are under intensive care at SCB Medical College.

Police personnel from Sagada outpost in Boudh district accused of assaulting a dhaba worker and stealing Rs 6,200, sparking protests for justice.

Police seized a Mahindra Thar SUV involved in a hit-and-run that killed an 8-year-old girl and injured her family during Raksha Bandhan in Bhubaneswar. The vehicle was found abandoned in Jatni, with the driver still at large.

A 29-member elephant herd from Jharkhand is causing havoc in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, damaging crops and houses, while a 31-member herd wreaks similar destruction in Keonjhar's Patana range. Forest officials are on high alert as villagers' interference exacerbates the situation.

Odisha's Malkangiri Forest Department rescued rare flap shell turtles from poacher Bipin Ray, arresting him near Motu-Konta. In a separate operation, STF arrested two for tiger skin trade in Nayagarh.

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal will trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in Odisha on August 12 and 13, with thunderstorms likely. The IMD has issued alerts for several districts.