Bhubaneswar: A search operation to trace a woman who allegedly jumped into the Kuakhai River from the Kuakhai Bridge in Bhubaneswar on Friday evening was suspended after more than an hour due to strong currents and fading light, officials said.
Fire Services personnel from the Mancheswar and Pahala stations launched a rescue operation immediately after receiving information about the incident. Equipped with a high-speed inflatable boat, boat hooks, life jackets and other rescue gear, a four-member team searched the river but failed to locate the woman.
Senior Fire Officer Durga Parija said the operation was called off at around 9:30 pm as darkness set in and the river was flowing with a strong current. He said multiple fire service teams, along with the striking force, would resume the search on Saturday morning.
According to the preliminary investigation by Mancheswar police, the incident occurred at around 6:40 pm when several people had gathered on the bridge to watch the swollen river. A woman, believed to be around 58 to 60 years old, was also standing there. Witnesses told police that she suddenly left behind a bag and a pair of slippers before jumping into the river, leaving bystanders stunned.
People at the spot immediately alerted the emergency response service by dialling 112, following which police and fire service teams rushed to the scene.
Officials said specialised rescue support, including personnel from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and scuba divers, could not be deployed as they are currently engaged in flood relief and rescue operations in north Odisha and other flood-affected districts.
Police have seized the slippers and other belongings left behind by the woman. However, no identity card or documents were found among the items, and her identity as well as the reason behind the incident remain unknown.
The recovery operation is scheduled to resume on Saturday morning.
