ODISHA JOURNO DROWNS COVERING TUSKER RESCUE

BHUBANESWAR: A journalist with a local TV channel died while his colleague was battling for life after an Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) boat, which was sent to rescue an elephant stranded in the swirling waters of the Mahanadi, overturned near Mundali bridge of Cuttack on Friday.

Arindam Das, 40, the chief reporter of OTV, his video journalist colleague Prabhat Sinha, along with five personnel of the ODRAF were in the inflatable dinghy that capsized due to strong current of water near the pillars of Mundali barrage during the rescue operation.

Das, who along with Sinha and four ODRAF personnel was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital, was declared brought dead, said Dr Bhubanananda Maharana, emergency officer of the hospital.

“Prabhat Sinha and an ODRAF personnel are in very serious condition. We are trying our best to save them,” said Dr Maharana, adding that three other ODRAF personnel were also in serious conditions. One ODRAF official is still missing.

Das is survived by his wife and three-year-old son. Jagi Mangat Panda, MD of OTV, said it was a terrible loss. “He was a brave and ethical journalist who fearlessly chose to go after breaking news. This is a terrible loss despite taking safety precautions & ODRAF’S best efforts...”

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP national vicepresident Baijayant Panda and NDRF DG Satya Narayan Pradhan condoled the journalist’s death. While Patnaik said the death of Das was a huge loss for journalism, the Union minister said the journalist had created his own identity with his daring news reportage in challenging circumstances. The elephant is yet to be rescued.