Cuttack: A youth died after drowning in the Mahanadi river near Jobra barrage in Odisha’s Cuttack on Sunday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Sohail Khan, a resident of Peer Bazar.
According to sources, Sohail was learning to swim in Mahanadi along with 49 others from Nimpur Sports Club, and unfortunately drowned in the river. His associates were unable to rescue him immediately.
On getting the information, local firefighters arrived at the spot and initiated the rescue operations.
After hours of the search operation, Sohail’s body was recovered from the water and sent to the SCB Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. “The trainer has been detained for questioning,” a police official said.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s father alleged that the Fire Services personnel arrived at the spot an hour after the mishap, for which Sohail could not be saved. “The Fire Services personnel lacked adequate equipment to rescue a drowning person. My son used to undergo training with an aim of serving in the Indian Army. Running and swimming was part of his preparations,” he said.
