Ganjam: A 20-year-old college student drowned while bathing in the Gopalpur Sea during a study tour in the Gopalpur police limits on Saturday.
The deceased, identified as Somnath Parida, was a final-year student at PN College, pursuing his Plus III studies.
According to Professor Hemanta Kumar Pradhan, a group of around 50 students from PN College had traveled to Berhampur University to visit the Doppler radar and the newly inaugurated Nano Technology Lab.
“As part of the plan, we were also scheduled to attend a community fest at the location. During the event, while preparations for food were underway, some students ventured off to the beach without informing us,” said Professor Pradhan. “Noticing that a few students were unaccounted for, I alerted another teacher to check the beach area. It was at this moment that the tragic incident was discovered.”
Upon reaching the spot, Professor Pradhan and other teachers found local villagers performing cremation rituals nearby. Upon notifying the villagers, they assisted in locating Somnath’s body, which had been found in the sea. He was promptly taken to a nearby medical facility, where he was declared dead by doctors.
Somnath’s uncle has alleged that the lack of proper management and responsibility in overseeing the group during the tour contributed to his nephew’s untimely death.
