Kendrapada: A woman and her son, who went missing while crab hunting in Baunsagada river inside Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapada district five days ago, were found safe in Habala forest block on Monday.
The mother-son duo have been identified as Anjana Mirdha and her son Ratindra Mirdha, residents of Debendranarayanpur village under Rajnagar tehsil.
Forest department officials said the two entered the forest last Wednesday along with two others. While the other two villagers returned safely, Anjana and Ratindra reportedly lost their way after venturing nearly eight kilometres inside the dense mangrove terrain.
When the duo did not return home by night, their family members lodged a missing complaint with Rajnagar police, which subsequently alerted the forest department. Four teams were then formed to locate the duo. Subsequently, eight teams were engaged in the search operation to cover all parts of the park.
After hours of intensive search, rescue teams, using drones, traced the mother-son duo to Gupti Nature Camp, where they were found sitting beside a nullah. They were provided food and water and then safely brought back by boat.
Anjana and Ratindra are likely to be taken to the hospital for medical examination before being handed over to their family members, sources added.
Bhitarkanika is known for its dense forests, creeks, and tidal zones. The Search operation was difficult in such terrain, with risks from wild animals, high tides, and thick vegetation slowing down progress.
