Kanas: The body of an 18-year-old Plus III 2nd-year Arts girl student from Gadabadaput village under Kanas police limits was spotted today by some locals, while floating on Rajua river in Puri district.

The deceased was identified as a student of a college in Mandarabasta, located near the village.

According to a police source, the girl was on the way to her college at around 10.00 am yesterday when the fatal mishap took place. She fell off the river bridge and went missing, the official said quoting the deceased’s family members. They had informed local police and fire services personnel about it.

On being informed, a six-member team of fire services personnel had launched a frantic search for the last two days at lower catchment areas of Rajua, Makara and Daya rivers to trace out the girl but to no avail.

After nearly 38 hours of lodging the FIR, some local youths of Haripur village near Chilika lake travelling in a boat spotted the body. They tied it with a rope and dragged up to the shore. Later, they informed Gadishagoda police about it, and in turn, Kanas police that the girl student’s body was found.

Police have seized the body and sent it to hospital for post-mortem and launched a probe.