Two Drownings in Odisha: Waterfall Tragedy in Jajpur; Tourist Missing at Puri Beach

August 24, 2025

Two youths drowned in a waterfall in Odisha’s Jajpur district, while a tourist went missing after Bathing at Puri sea beach on Saturday, police said. One body has been recovered in Jajpur, with search operations ongoing for the other victim.

The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Shambhu Pradhan of Kanjiapal village. The missing person is Manas Mahanta, an engineer from Bandhagaon-Koil village.

Reports say Shambhu, Manas, and a friend named Buturu Mahanta went to bathe in a seasonal waterfall near their village around 10 am. Shambhu and Manas reportedly jumped into the waterfall while Buturu remained on the bank. When they failed to return, Buturu alerted family and villagers, prompting a rescue effort, police said.

A Sukinda Fire Service team recovered Shambhu’s body, followed later by a Bhuban Fire Brigade team from nearby Dhenkanal district, though Manas’s body remained unfound.

The tragedy site lies in the Mahagiri hill range under the Sukinda forest division. The waterfall drops about 300 feet into a deep, treacherous pit and is noted for its hazardous conditions.

Separately, a Hyderabad tourist, Vikash Chande, went missing while bathing at Puri’s sea beach. Despite searches by lifeguards and fire service personnel, no trace of Vikash was found.

Authorities are continuing to search for both missing individuals and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incidents.