Body Of Girl, Who Jumped Into Mahanadi In Sambalpur, Found In Odisha’s Athagarh

Cuttack: Body of the Class IX girl student was found in Cuttack district on Tuesday, three days after she disappeared after reportedly jumping into the Mahanadi from Chaunpur bridge in Sambalpur.

According to sources, locals found the body of girl floating in the water on the banks of the river at Kandarpur area under Athagarh police limits in the district this morning. Following which, Fire Service personnel reached the spot and recovered the body, which was then taken to Athagarh hospital.

The deceased, Kajal Sahani, was a student of the Hindi School near Golebazar. She left home for school on August 24 morning but an hour later, morning walkers saw her near Chaunpur bridge, where she parked her bicycle and jumped into the river before anyone could stop her. The river had swelled due to the opening of sluice gates of Hirakud dam in Sambalpur district and the girl was suspected to have been swept away in the floodwater despite knowing how to swim.

Four teams of fire services were then engaged in the search operation despite the strong currents and rising water levels.

Her family was distraught since her elder sister had also drowned 12 years ago as a child. “My daughter did not have any issues or fights with anyone. I told her not to go to school as it was raining, but she insisted and left home at 6 am,” Rambhajan Sahani, the girl’s father, had then told reporters.