Bhubaneswar, Jul 4: A 35-year-old man went missing after being swept away in a rain-swollen open drain near Vani Vihar in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

#Bhubaneswar: A man swept away in an open drain near Vani Vihar amid heavy rain.

The missing person has been identified as Anil Singh of Patharabandha Basti.

Rescue teams have launched a search operation to trace him.#Odisha #BhubaneswarRains #RescueOperation pic.twitter.com/4ys99pXTwq

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) July 4, 2026

Accordig to sources, Singh was caught in the strong current of the overflowing drain following heavy rainfall in the city. Witnesses reported that he was unable to escape the surge, prompting immediate calls for assistance.

The incident has prompted a massive search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies. Teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Fire Services have been deployed to trace Singh. Rescue personnel are using ropes, and floodlights to comb the area, while divers have been pressed into service to search the drain and adjoining water channels.

Officials said that the operation is being carried out on a war footing, with coordination between local police and disaster response teams. The incident has raised concerns about urban flooding and the safety of open drains in Bhubaneswar, particularly during the monsoon season.

As of Saturday evening, the search was still underway, with authorities urging residents to remain cautious near waterlogged areas.