Berhampur/Phulbani: Forest Department officials Friday recovered the body of a man who had been swept away by flood water along with five others while resting atop an Indira Awas house in Bhutapankal village under Gajalbadi panchayat in Ganjam district.
While the five others are still missing, the deceased has been identified as Prafulla Mallick of the same village.
Prafulla, along with five others including two elderly persons of a family had been swept away by flash flood of Adangi Rriver Thursday, hours after cyclone Titli made a landfall on the Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coast near Palasa in Srikakulam district.
Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange has ordered a search operation to rescue the victims following the incident.
While one person’s body was recovered Friday morning, while search is on to locate the remaining, who still remain untraceable, senior officials said.
In another, Ashok Behera of Penji Sahi in Phulbani town was swept away in flash flood triggered by Titli here in Kandhamal district Friday.
Sources, Behera had gone to attend nature’s call early Friday morning. Meanwhile, flash floods swept him away. Locals spotted him and alerted the fire tender team who rescued him and rushed to Phulbani district headquarters hospital (DHH).
However, doctors declared him brought dead upon arrival.
According to sources, Behera worked as a driver and earned a livelihood for the family. Locals sympathised with the bereaved family and demanded necessary compensation for them.
A case of unnatural death was registered and the body was handed over to family members after autopsy.
PNN