Puri: A 45-year-old home guard deployed for Rath Yatra duty in Odisha’s Puri died under mysterious circumstances. Possible snakebite was suspected to have led to his death.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident that took place on Saturday night and the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination.
The deceased has been identified as Pradeep Kumar Mahanta, a resident of Hundapita village under Ghatgaon police limits in Kendujhar district. He was among a 50-member contingent of home guards from Kendujhar assigned to security duty during the Rath Yatra festival.
Sources said Mahanta was sleeping in a room at Satyabadi High School, where the home guards were being accommodated during their deployment.
In the middle of the night, he reportedly woke up and began vomiting. His colleagues noticed white froth coming out of his mouth and immediately rushed him to Sakhigopal Hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
While it is suspected that he may have suffered a snakebite, the exact reason will be known after the post-mortem.
Following the incident, Satyabadi Police reached the spot and initiated an investigation. The body has been sent to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination.
After learning about the tragic incident, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family. The CM announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) and assured that one eligible member of Mahanta’s family would be appointed as a home guard.
