Drowning / Kendrapada: Three Minors Drown in Luna River; Bodies Recovered After 7-Hour Search

Kendrapada, Oct 20: Three minor boys who went missing while bathing in the Luna River in Odisha's Kendrapada district were found dead on Tuesday after a seven-hour search operation by Fire Services personnel, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Sabyasachi Swain, Chiranjeeb Parida, and Himanshu Sekhar Satapathy, all residents of Gahaga village under Kendrapada Sadar police limits.

The bodies were recovered from the river and sent for post-mortem examination.

According to local residents, the three boys had gone to the Gahaga ghat on the Luna River at around 11 a.m. for a bath. They reportedly slipped into deep water after losing their footing on loose sand and were swept away by the river's current.

The incident came to light when the boys failed to return home and their clothes and personal belongings were found on the riverbank. Family members and villagers initially searched for them before informing the authorities.
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A team from the Kendrapada Fire Services department rushed to the spot and launched a search operation using two boats. After several hours of search efforts, the bodies of the three boys were recovered from the river.

The incident has left Gahaga village in mourning. Grief-stricken family members and residents gathered at the riverbank as officials completed the necessary formalities before sending the bodies for autopsy.

Police have initiated further proceedings in connection with the incident.