Body Of Missing Maharashtra Engineer Recovered From Odisha River, Drowns While Trying To Rescue Colleague
According to local police, four engineers employed by a private construction firm involved in the renovation of the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital had on Sunday afternoon gone to the riverbank near Biren Mitra Park for a casual afternoon dip around 3 pm on Sunday.
Bhubaneswar: A tragic outing turned fatal in Odisha’s Cuttack city after two young engineers from Maharashtra drowned in the Kathajodi river. Authorities confirmed on Monday that the body of the second missing engineer was recovered following an extensive overnight search operation.
According to local police, four engineers employed by a private construction firm involved in the renovation of the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital had on Sunday afternoon gone to the riverbank near Biren Mitra Park for a casual afternoon dip around 3 pm on Sunday. What began as a recreational visit quickly turned disastrous when one of them lost his footing and was swept away by the river’s strong currents.
In a desperate attempt to save his colleague, another engineer jumped in, but he too was overpowered by the swift water. While the body of one of the victims was recovered on Sunday evening, rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), launched a continuous search operation through the night for the missing individual.
“The body of the second engineer was retrieved early Monday morning by our NDRF team,” a senior police official from Cuttack said.
The deceased were identified as Rutikesh Matal and Rutik Bhonje, both in their mid-20s and hailing from Maharashtra. Their bodies have been sent to SCB Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination. Authorities have informed the victims’ families and are making arrangements for the handover of the remains.
The incident has cast a shadow over the ongoing construction project at Odisha’s premier medical institution, and authorities have urged visitors to exercise extreme caution along riverbanks, especially during the pre-monsoon period when water levels and currents can be unpredictable.
This incident follows a spate of drowning cases reported across different parts of the state as temperatures rise and more people flock to water bodies to beat the summer heat.
