Bhubaneswar, Oct 13 (UDN): A 17-year-old boy drowned in a pond at Nuasahi under Nayapalli police limits in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The deceased, identified as Rahul Patra, was a resident of Patharabandha.
According to preliminary information, Rahul had gone to the pond to bathe when he allegedly entered deeper water and drowned.
Following information about the incident, Fire Services personnel rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. After nearly an hour of efforts, rescuers recovered the boy’s body from the pond.
Nayapalli police subsequently took custody of the body and sent it to a hospital for post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details regarding the circumstances leading to the drowning are awaited.
Series of Drowning Incidents Raise Concern Across Odisha
Rahul’s death comes amid a series of drowning incidents reported across Odisha in recent weeks, highlighting continuing concerns over water safety, particularly among children and adolescents.
On September 16, three girls aged six, seven and nine drowned in the Sankha River in Sundargarh district while bathing. The following day, further reports of drowning incidents emerged from different parts of the state, including cases linked to idol immersion.
On September 18, a 12-year-old schoolgirl drowned in a pond in Balasore district. On September 28, Class 10 student Arnab Sahu reportedly drowned in a pond in Khordha district while attending a district-level sports competition.
The incidents continued into October. On October 7, two Class 7 girls drowned in a pond in Rayagada district. Three days later, two brothers aged 12 and 14 drowned while bathing in the Aradei River in Keonjhar district, while another boy was rescued in critical condition.
State Plans Measures to Prevent Drowning Deaths
In response to the growing concerns, the Odisha government had earlier identified 169 drowning-prone locations across the state and announced plans to train 3,420 Home Guards as lifeguards.
The proposed measures aim to strengthen rescue capabilities and improve safety at vulnerable water bodies.
Rahul’s death has once again drawn attention to the dangers posed by ponds and rivers, particularly when children and teenagers enter deep water without adequate safety measures. Effective supervision, public awareness and timely emergency response remain crucial to preventing similar tragedies.