Odisha journalist dies after drowning in Mahanadi River while covering elephant rescue operation

The Emergency Officer of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Bhubanananda Maharana, has confirmed the death of Odisha Television Limited (OTV)'s journalist Arindam Das in a boat mishap this afternoon.

OTV cameraperson Prabhat Sinha, who was accompanying Arindam Das during the coverage, has been rescued and he is undergoing treatment in a critical condition, medical officials said.

According to reports, OTV chief reporter Arindam Das was covering an operation launched to rescue a wild elephant stuck in the Mahanadi River under Mundali bridge in Cuttack and he had boarded an Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) boat along with a rescue team.

During the operation, the boat suddenly capsized near Mahanadi River barrage due to the strong currents in the water and the journalist reportedly drowned, while the incident was being telecasted live on OTV.

It was seen in the footage that Arindam Das and all others on board the boat wore life jackets and other rescuers made unsuccessful attempts to save the young reporter.

OTV reported that Arindam Das and his cameraperson Prabhat Sinha had been rescued shortly from the Mahanadi river and rushed to a Cuttack hospital where Das was pronounced dead.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death of the journalist and he wished speedy recovery to the OTV video-journalist.