Nayagarh: In a heart-wrenching incident, a minor girl drowned while trying to save her best friend from drowning while the two had gone to Hada river for ‘Khudurukuni Osa’ rituals here Sunday afternoon.
The deceased has been identified as Tulasi Jena (13) of Thanapallipatana village under Ranpur police limits.
According to sources, Tulasi along with some of her friends had gone to the nearby river for ‘Khudurukuni Osa’ rituals.
Accidentally one of the girl slipped and fell into the water body. The river swollen up due to the prevailing incessant rain swept away the girl right before the eyes of her friends.
Without giving a second though, Tulasi dived into the river to save her friend while others stood mere spectators. She successfully saved her friend but eventually got swept away in the strong currents of the river and drowned.
Hearing the screams of the girls, locals rushed to the spot and tried to save her, but in vain. After getting information, fire officials reached the spot and recovered her body at some distance from the spot of the unfortunate event.
Meanwhile, the girl who had been saved by Tulasi, is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.