The deceased identified as Ruksana Fatim was rescued by a team of fire services personnel accompanied by two scuba divers who had been pressed into action since yesterday.
Notably, to get respite from blistering heat Ruksana, a resident of Pensionpada, his father Mohammad Altaf and brother Md Aspat had been to Daleipada ghat to take bath yesterday afternoon.
The river which was in a swollen state due to release of water by Hirakud dam to maintain water level swept away Ruksana and his brother first. Altaf, who didn’t know how to swim, dived into the river in a desperate effort to save his two kids.
After all three were swept away into the river by the strong current, a rescue effort by local fishermen and fire brigade succeeded in fishing out the bodies of Altaf and his son yesterday.
A pal of gloom has descended on the Pensionpada area post the mishap.
