Baripada: Two tourists drowned at Sitakunda waterfall, a popular picnic spot located at the foothills of the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, on Friday. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Shamakhunta block.
According to sources, a group of tourists from Bhadrak district had arrived at Sitakunda earlier in the day for a picnic. While spending time near the natural pond formed at the base of the waterfall, three members of the group reportedly slipped and fell into the water.
One of the three was rescued immediately by others present at the spot. However, the remaining two could not be saved due to the depth of the pond and the intensely cold water. They went missing shortly after the incident.
Upon being informed, police and fire services personnel rushed to the site. After a search operation, fire services officials recovered the bodies of the two deceased tourists from the pond.
The bodies are being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Baripada for post-mortem examination. Police have initiated further investigation into the incident.
Sitakunda, also known as Sitakund, is a well-known tourist destination near Similipal, attracting visitors for its scenic waterfall and natural pool formed by cascading hill streams. The incident has once again highlighted safety concerns at popular tourist spots, especially during picnics and group outings.
