Kataka: Three college students went missing after being swept away in the Mahanadi river near Satabatia under Jagatpur area of Kataka district on Sunday, triggering a massive search and rescue operation by Fire Services personnel and local police.
According to reports, four students had entered the river for bathing when they were caught in a strong current. While three of them were swept away, one student, Pratyush Swain, managed to swim to safety and immediately alerted locals about the incident.
Following the alert, residents informed the authorities, after which teams from Jagatpur police station and Fire Services rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. The incident site was cordoned off as rescue teams began efforts to trace the missing students.
During the operation, one of the students, identified as Mukti Prasad Dash (23), a resident under Madhupatna police station limits, was rescued around 9:30 pm and was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Kataka, for treatment. Pratyush Swain was also taken for medical attention.
However, the whereabouts of the remaining two students are still unknown despite continued efforts by rescue teams. Fire Services personnel have intensified the search operation along the river stretch, even as darkness hampered operations late into the evening.
Further details are awaited.
