Bhadrak: A grandmother and her granddaughter drowned in the Salandi river on Wednesday afternoon while returning home after plucking mangoes in Tihidi block of Bhadrak district.
The deceased have been identified as Draupadi Behera and her granddaughter Lashmipriya Behera of Padasahi village under Telasagopbindha panchayat, Tihidi police station limits. According to reports, the two had gone to a mango grove on the banks of the Salandi river.
While returning, they accidentally fell into the river and drowned. When the duo did not return home, family members began searching for them near the river. They first spotted Draupadi Behera floating and pulled her out.
Later, Lashmipriya was rescued from the water with great difficulty, but she had already died. With the help of the fire brigade, villagers took both to the Tihidi Community Health Centre, where doctors declared them dead. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the village.
Lashmipriya was a Class 10 student at the local Chandi High School. Locals said the family is poor and have urged the government to provide immediate assistance to the bereaved family.
