Khurdha: After five days of intense search operation, the decomposed body of Om Prakash Rath was found floating in the water-filled stone quarry in Tapang near Jatni of Khurdha district on Friday.
Om Prakash, a native of Ranapur in Nayagarh district, drowned in the quarry while trying to save his friend from drowning. The incident took place while the friends were shooting reels at the abandoned quarry which was closed for the last several years.
After the news spread, the district administration immediately swung into action and pressed the ODRAF team in the search operation. Later, teams from INS Chilika, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also called to join the operation. Finally, a start-up of NIT engaged a robot and sound navigation and ranging (sonar) system to find the youth. However, all efforts by the multiple teams went in vain. On Friday morning, the rescue team found the body floating.
Om was pursuing a physiotherapy course at the Abhinav Bindra Sports Medicine and Research Institute (ABSMARI) near Pahal on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
