Debagada: In a tragic incident, a farmer reportedly drowned in a swollen nullah (stream) while returning home after working in his fields at Madalia village under Barkote block in Debagada district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Purnachandra Apat, a resident of Madalia village.
As per reports, after completing his farm work, he was crossing the Matuali nullah near the village when he was swept away by the strong current of floodwaters. On receiving information, teams from the Barkote Fire Station and police launched a search operation in the Matuali stream. During the search, the body of Apat was found floating a short distance from where he had gone missing.
Fire service personnel retrieved the body. The Barkote police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
This fatality comes amid widespread heavy rainfall and flooding across several districts of Odisha.
