THE body of a CISF jawan who was swept away by the strong current of the Kolab River at Gulmi picnic spot in Odisha was recovered on Tuesday after an intensive 36-hour search operation. The deceased, identified as Kailash Choudhary, was posted at the CISF unit of the NMDC Steel Plant in Nagarnar. According to official sources, he had gone to the Gulmi picnic spot in neighbouring Odisha’s Koraput district, around 18 km from Nagarnar, along with colleagues on the occasion of Mahashivratri. During the visit, he reportedly ventured close to a dangerous stretch of the river where water flows rapidly through narrow and jagged rock formations.

 

He is believed to have lost his footing on the slippery rocks and was immediately swept away by the powerful current. Despite prompt efforts by his colleagues to rescue him, he disappeared within moments. Upon receiving information about the incident, teams from Odisha Police and Chhattisgarh Police launched a joint search operation. Skilled divers were deployed, but the rescue efforts were hampered by the river’s depth, swift current and narrow rocky crevices. After continuous search efforts lasting nearly 36 hours, the body was located on Tuesday, trapped between rocks in the gorge-like stretch of the river.