Odisha schoolboy drowns in river; body recovered

Reported by Malay Ray
Sundargarh, Feb 10:

Police recovered the body of a 14 year old boy, who had apparently drowned in the Ib river, near Sundargarh in Odisha on Tuesday.

The boy has been identified as Satya Prakash Sahu (14), a resident of Mahesdih under Town police station in Sundargarh, who studies in Class VIII in Central School in the town.

After conducting an autopsy, police have handed over the body to his family members.

Sources said at around 1 pm on Monday afternoon, Satya Prakash, alongwith seven of his friends from his school, had gone to the Ib river at Semna on the outskirts of the town for an outing.

Satya Prakash, alongwith his friend Abhijit Prushet, had entered the river for bathing. But Satya Prakash drowned in the river while bathing.

On seeing Satya Prakash drowning, Abhijit and the other boys panicked and fled from the spot. They did not inform anyone about the drowning of Satya Prakash.

When Satya Prakash did not return home till evening, his father asked Abhijit and his other friends the whereabouts of Satya Prakash and came to know from them that Satya Prakash had drowned in the river while bathing.

On Monday evening, Satya Prakash’s father informed Sadar police station about his son’s drowning. Sadar police team, alongwith a fire brigade team, immediately rushed to the spot and started searching for Satya Prakash’ body. But as it was already dark by the time, the search operation could not be conducted.

On Tuesday morning, the search operation resumed and Satya Prakash’ body was recovered from the river. After recovering the body, police sent it for autopsy.

“We are now investigating the case.” Said G. Mohapatra, IIC, Sadar police station, Sundargarh.