Heroic Rescue Turns Tragic: Local Man Drowns While Saving Biker in Flooded Brahmani River

Tragic Incident in Kendrapara District

Pattamundai: A heartbreaking event unfolded on Tuesday when a 61-year-old man tragically drowned in the floodwaters of the Brahmani River while attempting to save a motorcyclist near Palpatana village in the Srirampur panchayat of Kendrapara district.

The victim, identified as Dinabandhu Dhal, was a resident of Palpatana. Eyewitnesses reported that the incident took place in the afternoon.

Witnesses recounted seeing Dhal leap into the turbulent waters to rescue Pratap Sahu, a biker who had lost control and was being swept away by the strong currents.

Dhal successfully brought Sahu to safety on the riverbank, but during the rescue, he lost his footing and was pulled under by the powerful floodwaters.

Local villagers quickly notified the Pattamundai Fire Services, but their response was reportedly delayed.

In a bid to find Dhal, community members launched a search operation using a dinghy.

After an extensive search, they located Dhal unconscious and brought him back to the riverbank.

Fire personnel transported him to Pattamundai Sub-Divisional Hospital, where he was declared dead by medical staff.

Authorities have sent his body for a post-mortem examination at the Aul community health center.

The community is mourning Dhal's passing, which has cast a pall over the region, especially as flood concerns continue to escalate.

In recent days, the Brahmani River has experienced flooding on two occasions, affecting 55 villages across 14 panchayats in the Pattamundai block.

The floods have inundated thousands of hectares of agricultural land, and just as the waters began to recede, levels rose again, exacerbating the situation and severing road access due to a breach on the Penthapala-Kolathia road.