Bhubaneswar: Two youths were swept away by strong currents while bathing in the swollen Hansua River near Ambiki village under the limits of Erasama police station in Jagatsinghpur district on Friday, prompting a search operation by rescue teams.
The missing youths have been identified as Butu Kandi (21) and Kanhu Kandi (16).
According to reports, the two youths were among a group of five who had gone to the river for a bath in the afternoon. While they were in the water, Butu and Kanhu were caught in the strong current and swept away. Their companions raised an alarm, following which local residents rushed to the spot and attempted to rescue them.
However, the heavy flow of the swollen river hampered rescue efforts. Soon after receiving information, personnel from the Fire Services, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Erasama police and local fishermen joined the search operation.
Erasama police station IIC Partha Pratim Beura said the strong current of the river had made the rescue operation challenging. He added that the chances of survival appeared slim due to the swift flow of water.
The search operation continued for several hours but was suspended in the evening due to darkness and difficult conditions. Rescue teams are scheduled to resume the operation on Saturday morning, reports said.
