The search for a missing PhD scholar from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela entered its third day on Monday, with rescue teams combing the waters of the Ib river in Odisha's Sundargarh district. Dipesh Kumar Pradhan (27), a second-year mathematics PhD student, was swept away while bathing on Saturday afternoon.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The incident occurred around 4 pm on Saturday at the Ghoghar Kanakund picnic spot. According to reports from his companions, Dipesh slipped on a rocky surface and was immediately carried away by the river's current. He had visited the spot with four fellow PhD scholars: Subhan Yadav, Amar Pal Verma, Kausik Gupa, and Supriya Sahoo, all aged between 24 and 27.
While his friends reside in the NIT-R hostel, Dipesh lived off-campus in Rourkela with his family. The group immediately alerted the Talsara police and the Balishankara fire station after the accident. Initial search efforts were launched but had to be suspended after nightfall. Police registered a formal missing case based on a written report from his friends.
Intensified Search Operations Underway
Search operations resumed on Sunday with personnel from the fire service and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team from Jharsuguda joining the efforts. The operation saw a significant scale-up on Monday, with over 20 personnel scanning a stretch of nearly 5 kilometers downstream from the point where Dipesh went under.
In a bid to locate the scholar, rescue teams have deployed advanced technology, including an underwater camera, to aid in the search. The scene was attended by Dipesh's uncle and officials from the Talsara police, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Authorities Confirm Ongoing Efforts
N Mohapatra, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Sadar, Sundargarh), confirmed that the search operation was ongoing but had yet to yield results. "The search operation again started today and is now underway, but the missing research scholar has not yet been traced," Mohapatra stated.
The relentless efforts by multiple agencies highlight the urgency of the mission to find the young scholar from Bargarh district. The academic community at NIT Rourkela and his family await news as the operation continues along the river's course.
