Kendrapara – July 9(Newshub Desk): A tragic accident claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy, Manas Barik, in Gobindpur village under Aul police jurisdiction, Kendrapara district, on Tuesday afternoon.
While returning home from school on his bicycle, Manas fell from a culvert into a canal swollen with floodwaters. Locals later discovered his bicycle trapped near the culvert, prompting a frantic search.
Due to water levels intensified by heavy rains, villagers struggled to trace the boy. The fire services were called but arrived late, hindered by poor road connectivity.
After nearly six hours, the boy’s body was found and taken to Gobindpur Community Health Centre (CHC), where he was declared dead.
Manas was the only child of Abhimanyu Barik, a local fitter. His untimely death has plunged the village into mourning.
Residents, grieving and angered by the delayed rescue, demanded swift government compensation and better infrastructure to prevent such tragedies.
An autopsy has been ordered, and the official report is expected on Wednesday.
