Bhubaneswar, July 29 (UDN): A firefighter lost his life after being electrocuted while carrying out flood relief operations in Odisha’s Kendujhar district on Wednesday, in a tragic reminder of the risks faced by emergency responders during the ongoing monsoon crisis.
The deceased has been identified as Chandan Pattnaik, a personnel of the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services, who was deployed to assist residents affected by heavy rain and waterlogging in Kendujhar town.
According to official sources, the fire service team had reached a flooded house near the Government Girls’ High School after receiving reports of severe waterlogging. While operating pumps to drain out the accumulated rainwater, Pattnaik allegedly came into contact with a live electric wire connected to a clothesline near the house.
He suffered a massive electric shock and collapsed at the spot. Fellow firefighters immediately rescued him and rushed him to the Kendujhar District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
The incident has cast a shadow over the flood relief operations being carried out across the State, with rescue personnel continuing to work in hazardous conditions amid incessant rainfall and inundation in several districts.
ଅଗ୍ନିଶମ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଚନ୍ଦନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରତ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଏକ ଅଭାବନୀୟ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ଅକାଳ ବିୟୋଗ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ।
ଏହି କଠିନ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି ନିମନ୍ତେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି। pic.twitter.com/7E4k3Vo7eF
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 29, 2026
Expressing grief over the loss, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid tribute to the firefighter’s dedication and sacrifice while offering condolences to the bereaved family.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said he was deeply saddened by the untimely death of Pattnaik while performing his official duty. He conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the family and prayed to Lord Jagannath for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
The tragic incident underscores the dangers faced by frontline emergency responders, who continue to carry out rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas despite challenging and life-threatening conditions.
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