Balangir: A 22-year-old youth from Fatamunda village in Patnagarh block of Balangir district has gone missing after being swept away by the rising waters of the Suktel river on Saturday.
The missing youth has been identified as Prashant Duduka, a resident of Fatamunda under Laramba police station limits.
According to reports, Prashant had gone to graze cattle near the river when he was caught in the strong current and swept away.
Heavy rainfall over the past few days in Patnagarh, including fresh showers on Friday night, has caused water levels in rivers across the region to swell. Locals believe the sudden surge in the Suktel river led to the mishap.
On learning about the incident, family members and villagers launched a search before alerting authorities.
The Patnagarh Fire Brigade and Laramba police reached the site and are currently engaged in rescue and search operations. However, despite continued efforts, Prashant has not yet been traced.
The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the village, as anxious family members await news of the missing youth.
