Phulbani: After nearly 12 hours of search operation by Fire Service personnel of Phulbani Fire Station, the body of a youth who was swept away along with his bike in the flooded Salunki river while passing through the bridge over the river connecting Nadikhandi Sahi of Phulbani town with Dakapala on Wednesday has been retrieved from the river near Kamburu village in the afternoon today.
The deceased youth has been identified as Tapas Ghatal of Dakapala village. He was swept away in the strong current of the river while he was going home on his bike over the bridge.
“Our Team Humanity and Fire Service personnel have identified the body as that of Tapas Ghatal of Ward no. 2 of Dakapala. He had gone to attend a feast at Chakapada at that time there was no water over the bridge.
While returning he couldn’t assess that water was flowing over the bridge and was swept away in the current. In the evening we searched for him for nearly three hours but in vain,” said Samir Ghatal, a member of Team Humanity.
Samir said that they with the help of Fire Service personnel recovered the body of Tapas from the river near Kamburu village at 2 PM today.
“After 8-9 hours of search, we have found the body at Kamburu. Since there was a strong current in the river it took more time. Team Humanity has helped us a lot in the rescue and search operation,” Loknath Jena, Senior Fire Personnel of Phulbani Fire Station.
