An Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawan drowned in the Mahanadi in Boudh district during a routine training activity on Wednesday.
The deceased Pradyumna Panda (30), who was working with the IRB 5th Battalion at Balasinga in the district, had entered the river water with a lifejacket and an oxygen cylinder during the training programme near the Boudh bridge. However, he went missing in the river at around 11.30 am after being washed away by the strong water current in the presence of other jawans of the battalion.
Receiving information, an ODRAF team and Fire Services personnel reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. But till the filing of this report, the whereabouts of the IRB jawan were to yet be known.
Locals said that as excess water is being released from the Hirakud Dam, the river is flooded.
