3 teenagers drown in river in Puri district

Bhubaneswar: A pall of gloom hung over Astaranga area in Puri district when three minor boys drowned while bathing in the Devi river on Tuesday.The deceased, who were identified as Ayusman Behera aka Om, 14, Ritesh Behera aka Kanha, 15, and Rohan Behera, 13, belonged to different families in Balidia village. Rohan, Ayusman and Ritesh were studying in Class VIII, IX and X, respectively.“They went to bathe around 1 pm without informing their family members. When they did not return after one or two hours, their families started searching for them. Clothes of the boys were found on a country boat on the riverbank,” said Prabhakar Behera, a villager.While an SOS was immediately sent to the fire brigade, some villagers launched a search operation in a boat. After about two hours, villagers found the boys floating on water about 4 km from the village. All of them were first admitted to Astarang community health centre. Later, they were shifted to Charichhak community health centre where doctors declared them dead upon arrival. Sources in the office of the special relief commissioner (SRC) said the Puri district administration would submit a report on the drowning deaths following which the govt would release ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.“The boys belonged to the local fishing community and learnt swimming skills at an early age. They stayed near the river and bathed in the waterbody every day. Had some other people been present near the river, the boys could have been rescued,” said Sanjay Behera, another villager.’Deputy CM Pravati Parida condoled the death of the boys. “I am deeply anguished over the drowning deaths. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” read her ‘X’ post.