Cuttack: In an unfortunate situation, a rescue boat carrying personnel of Odisha Disaster Rapid Force and journalists over-turned near Mundali bridge in Odisha’s Cuttack .The boat was sent to rescue an elephant stranded in the floodwater of Mahanadion Friday leading Otv Chief reporter Arindam Dash passing away.
Chief Reporter of Odisha Television (OTV), a regional news channel, drowned while covering a live rescue operation by the ODRAF team inside the Mahanadi river near Munduli today.
Arindam and the cameraman of OTV were in the boat along with the ODRAF personnel deployed to rescue a wild elephant trapped in the strong current of the Mahanadi river.
During the rescue operation, when the ODRAF team was chasing the elephant to the shore, the boat overturned and capsized near Mundali barrage.
He was rescued in a country boat and rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack along with his cameraman Pravat Sinha in critical condition.
Five ODRAF personnel, Arindam and Pravat Sinha were on the powerboat when the mishap took place. The two media persons and three ODRAF personnel were rushed to SCB Medical College and hospital in critical condition.
SCB Medical sources said that Arindam was brought dead as he was swept away by strong flooded currents and drowned.
Pravat Sinha is admitted to ICU and is fighting for his life. The condition of one of the ODRAF personnel is also critical, he said.
Arindam started his career as a crime reporter in the OTV and later started covering the flood, cyclone and other disaster incidents. He was promoted to Chief Reporter of the channel.
A young and daredevil journalist, Arindam was very popular in the media circle and his untimely death has sent a shock wave in the media fraternity.
Reportedly, five rescue personnel along with two journalists were present in the boat while it overturned. The boat has almost reached near the trapped tusker when it swept away and overturned.
Although all of them were immediately rescued out of the river, the two journalists were rushed to S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack in a critical condition.
It is noteworthy of that, three elephants were stranded in Mahanadi river near Mundali bridge in Athagarh of Cuttack district. Seven elephants have been swept away due to the strong water current in the river while a herd of elephants were crossing it and have been found floating near Nuasasan village under Athagarh.
The local spotted the trapped elephant and informed to the rescue operations team. On getting the information, the local fire fighters and 10-member expert team along with Chandaka DFO arrived at the spot to initiate the rescue operation of the trapped elephants.
Till the last reports came in, two tuskers were rescued while another one is still trapped. The rescue operation is underway.
