Sambalpur: Six minor girls were swept away in Mahanadi River near Badabazar in Sambalpur district Sunday while they were taking bath.
While five girls were rescued by locals and fire services personnel, one girl, identified as Pinki Biswakarma, was missing till last reports came in.
The six girls had gone to the river around 11:00am for taking bath during which one of them got swept away by strong water current. Other girls also met the same fate as they attempted to rescue her.
On being informed by locals, fire services personnel reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. Efforts were on to trace the missing girl.
Notably, a minor girl was missing while two other children were rescued after being swept away in a canal at Cuttack Saturday.
Two girls and a boy, aged between 7 and 9 years of the Chauliaganj area, were bathing in Taladanda canal when one of the girls slipped and was swept away by the strong current.
Trying to rescue her, the two others also lost their balance and slipped deep into the water, they said.
Hearing the cries of the children, a fish vendor, who was selling fish on the bank, plunged into the water, and rescued the boy and one girl, they said.
On being informed, the police reached the spot to search for the missing girl. The girl was yet to be traced till late in the evening Saturday, police said.
PNN