Puri: A youth went missing while bathing in the sea at Puri beach in Odisha today. He has been identified as 18-year-old Shubhendhu Pradhan from Jajpur district.

The incident took place at the beach in front of a hotel in Puri, a popular tourist spot. As per preliminary information, Shubhendhu had gone for a morning bath along with his friends. The group was enjoying time in the water when suddenly strong waves and high tide conditions pulled Shubhendhu into deeper parts of the sea. Eyewitnesses said that the current was unusually strong, making it difficult for him to return to the shore. His friends immediately raised an alarm and made frantic attempts to locate him, but he could not be traced.

Following the incident, lifeguards were alerted and quickly reached the spot. A search operation was launched using jet skis, with teams combing the surrounding waters for any sign of the missing youth. Local authorities have also been informed, and efforts are ongoing to trace him.

Barely 10 days back, a student of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University in Bhubaneswar had gone missing in the Puri sea while taking a bath.

Incidents like this have once again raised concerns over safety measures and the need for increased caution while bathing in the sea, especially during high tide conditions at busy beaches like Puri.

Also read: SOA University Student Goes Missing in Puri Beach While Taking Bath