Jharsuguda: A 27-year-old bank employee has gone missing after reportedly falling into the Bheden river while attempting to take a selfie near a Shiva temple in Jharsuguda district on Thursday.
The missing youth, identified as Bikash Sahu of Brajrajnagar, was employed with Axis Bank in Jharsuguda. He had visited the riverside Shiva temple in Sodhamala panchayat along with six colleagues, taking advantage of the day off during the state-wide bandh, which had brought business to a standstill.
According to eyewitnesses, the group was relaxing near the riverbank when Bikash slipped and fell into the river while clicking a selfie. A female colleague who also fell in during the chaos was rescued by a local youth, but Bikash was swept away by the current and remains untraceable.
Soon after the incident, teams from the Odisha Fire Services and Kolabira Police Station rushed to the spot and began a search and rescue operation. The efforts continued late into the day, but there was no success in locating the missing youth at the time of filing this report.
Locals have urged authorities to place warning signs near vulnerable riverbanks, especially near frequently visited temples and picnic spots.
