Paradip: Kunjang Fire Services personnel recovered the body of a fisherman, who drowned while fishing in the Mahanadi river near Paradip Choumuhani in the early hours of Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Mahendra Sethi (61) of Paradip Gada.
According to sources, Sethi is suspected to have slipped and drowned while fishing with a friend Rajesh Tarai in chest-deep water. “His companion dialled 112 control room. We immediately reached the spot and fished out the body,” said Kartika Biswal, a Fire Service officer.
The incident had earlier sparked fear that Sethi might have been dragged into the water by a crocodile, a recurring concern in parts of the Mahanadi delta region.
His companion said that they reached the Mahanadi at around 4.30 pm and then spread nets to catch fish. The incident took place as they were swimming with the net, which probably exhausted Sethi and he drowned. Rajesh saw the stick, attached to the net which he was holding, had slipped from his hand. He looked around for him but was too tired to continue with the search and altered locals.
