Jharsuguda Bank Employee Missing After Falling into Bheden River While Taking Selfie

Jharsuguda: A 27-year-old Axis Bank employee from Brajrajnagar went missing on Thursday after accidentally falling into the Bheden river while taking a selfie near a Shiva temple under Sodhamala panchayat in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district.

The missing youth, identified as Bikash Sahu, had visited the temple with six colleagues during a day off prompted by the state-wide strike, which had slowed down business activities. The group had gone to the scenic riverside location to relax when the incident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, Bikash lost his balance and slipped into the deep river while attempting to take a selfie. A female colleague who also fell in was rescued by a local youth present at the spot.

However, Bikash could not be traced despite immediate rescue efforts. Local residents alerted the authorities, following which personnel from the Fire Services and Kolabira Police initiated a search and rescue operation.

As of the time of this report, Bikash Sahu remains untraced, and efforts to locate him are ongoing. The incident has raised concerns over the growing number of selfie-related accidents near water bodies and natural spots across the state.