Two Minor Kanwariya Sisters Drown in Odisha’s Subarnarekha River

The victims, aged 12 and 14, hailed from Chakahari village in Jaleswar block. According to police and eyewitnesses, the tragedy struck at Shikharpur ghat, where the sisters had gone to fetch water before offering prayers at their village shrine. While filling their vessels at the riverbank, both reportedly lost their footing and were swept away by the swift current.

Nearby villagers rushed to help, but the intense force of the water carried the girls downstream. A search and rescue operation was immediately launched by police and the Odisha Fire Services, but neither could be saved.

Local residents said the Subarnarekha’s water level has been unusually high due to heavy rains in recent weeks, making the ghat particularly hazardous. Authorities had earlier advised residents to remain vigilant during the monsoon, but rituals and fishing activities have continued along the river.

In a separate incident in the same district, the body of fisherman Gopal Giri of Kankadapal village was recovered on Friday morning. Giri had been missing since August 2, after setting out to fish at the Kankadapal river mouth with three others. Two fishermen were rescued in critical condition earlier, while another, Rabindra Giri, was found dead. Rescue teams from the Marine Police and Fire Services cited rough tides and strong currents as major challenges during the week-long search.

The tragedies add to a growing list of water-related deaths in eastern India this monsoon. Just weeks earlier, a seaside outing turned deadly at Tajpur Beach on the West Bengal–Odisha border, when three tourists were swept away by powerful waves. One died, another remains missing, and the third was rescued.