Kendrapada, Oct 20: Three youths went missing after reportedly being swept away by a sudden rise in the water level of the Luna River in Odisha’s Kendrapada district on Tuesday morning.
An Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team has launched a search operation to trace the missing youths, identified as Himanshu Parida, Ashish Satpathy and Sabyasachi Swain.
According to reports, five youths from Gahaga village had gone to the river to bathe at around 11 am when the water level suddenly rose. Three of them were reportedly swept away by the current.
Following information about the incident, an ODRAF team reached the site and began search and rescue operations. Local residents and family members of the missing youths have also joined the efforts to locate them.
Locals Suspect Illegal Sand Mining
Meanwhile, some local residents have alleged that illegal sand mining in the Luna River may have contributed to the incident. However, the allegation has not been independently confirmed.
The search operation was continuing at the time of filing this report, and there was no immediate confirmation regarding the whereabouts of the three missing youths.
Further details are awaited as rescue teams continue their efforts in the river.
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