Kotpad , 22nd Sept 2025: An elderly woman drowned in a pond near Denga Kusumaguda village in Masigaon panchayat, Kundura block, Nabarangpur district. The deceased has been identified as Rukmini Bishoyi (61 years old).
According to family members, she had gone to a nearby pond (known as Haladi Bandha) around 3 PM for defecation. When she did not return for a long time, the family started searching for her. Upon finding her clothes and slippers near the pond bank, they suspected she may have drowned.
They immediately informed the Kundura and Baipariguda fire brigades, along with the Baipariguda police station. Both fire and police teams began a search operation. The pond is reported to be 15–20 feet deep.
Villagers and family members suspect that she may have slipped and accidentally drowned due to carelessness. Despite continuous search efforts until evening, she was not found, and fire personnel temporarily withdrew.
Later, when police reached the spot, they noticed the body floating in the pond. The fire brigade retrieved the body and handed it over to the Baipariguda police, who then sent it to the Baipariguda Community Health Centre mortuary for preservation.
Local social worker Chandra Sekhar Nayak, husband of the village sarpanch, was present and assisted at the scene.
As of the time of reporting, no formal complaint had been lodged at the police station. When contacted, Baipariguda IIC Mr. Dumburu Dutt confirmed the recovery of the body. He also stated that the family is expected to file a written complaint soon.
The body will be handed over to the family after post-mortem procedures, likely by tomorrow, he added.