Two boys drown in Mahanadi

Cuttack: In a tragic incident, two young students today drowned in river Mahanadi at Kissan Nagar under Cuttack rural district, about 20 km from here.

Police said the bodies of the deceased were fished out in the afternoon and were sent for post mortem.

Local police inspector Pranita Pattanaik said a family from Tinigharia in Cuttack city had visited the local Shani Temple for puja in the morning. After the rituals were over Abhishek Bastia (17) of the family along with two of his friends went to the nearby ghat for bathing.

"All the three were swept away by strong currents. But one of them managed to escape while Abhishek and Soumya Ranjan Sahu of Ranihat in Cuttack city went missing. After searching for over five hours, the locals and fire brigade personnel fished out the bodies of the two deceased," the police inspector said.