Bhubaneswar: In a heart-rending incident, an eight-year-old boy died after being swept away in an open drain filled with rainwater in Laxmi Sagar area in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday afternoon.
The boy, identified as SK Rajesh is a resident of Masjid Colony in Unit 3 of the city. He was playing outside his home in the rainwater. He fell in an open drain while trying to catch a balloon floating on the water, his family members said.
Rakesh was swept away in the heavy tide while his relatives and neighbours immediately searched for him in the drain.
Later, two teams of fire tender unit joined the operation. One of his relatives, who searched for him in the water finally found him in a nullaha at Laxmi Sagar after an hour of operation and immediately handed him over to the fire brigade team.
“We swung into action soon after being informed about the incident. Finally, we found him and took him to hospital. He is in a critical condition. Doctors can give updates about his health,” Fire Officer Abani Swain said.
Rakesh was immediately taken to Capital Hospital in critical condition by a special ambulance where doctors declared him dead.
Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the family of the minor deceased.
“It was a very tragic incident. No one can bear the loss. As per the government norms, his family members will get Rs 4 lakh compensation,” Das said.
“The drain where the boy drowned belongs to the Railway department. We will also speak to the Railway authorities,” she added.
