Berhampur: A college student from Odisha’s Khurda town reportedly died of drowning in the sea at Gopalpur in Ganjam district during a study tour on Saturday.
According to sources, around 50 students of the Prananath (Autonomous) College in Khurda, including the deceased, had gone on a study tour to Gopalpur. The deceased was identified as Somnath Parida, a final year student of Plus III.
Some of the students including Somnath went for swimming in the sea while others were on the beach near Dhabaleswar temple. As Somnath did not come out of the water for a long time after others came back to the beach, they knew that he was missing and informed the college teachers who had accompanied them.
Later, Somnath’s body was found floating in the sea water and retrieved. On being informed, police went to the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. They have registered a case of unnatural death and started investigation.
However, Somnath’s family alleged that he died due to the negligence of the teachers. Instead of going on study tour, they had gone on a picnic. While the teachers were having fun, Somnath drowned in the sea, they claimed.
On the other hand, the college teachers said 4-5 students had gone for swimming in the sea without informing them. They came to know about Somnath’s death later, they added.
