Balasore: Erring on the side of courage, eight tourists Friday gave a new lease of life to a youth who was found buried neck-deep inside sand of Chandipur sea beach here in this district.
The tourists dug him out of the sand and rushed him to Balasore district headquarters hospital (DHH) where his condition is stated to be stable. However, how the youth got inside the sand remains a question. Exact reason will be known after his health improves.
While some claimed that the youth might have been buried in the sand by his enemies in bid to kill him, others claimed he was drunk and had fallen asleep in the river bank after which he got buried inside the sand.
Meanwhile, the bravery and quick action of the eight tourists has become the talk of the town.
According to available information, Rajesh Singh, Ganesh Behera, Jagan Patra, Kissan Patra, Sanjay Behera, Ranjan Patra and Alok Patra from Chandmari padia of Sahadevkhunta in Balasore had gone to Chandipur sea beach. While spending their time at the beach, they noticed a man’s head in sand with his body fully buried inside the sand.
They rushed to his rescue but while they were trying to get him out, a large wave came only to make their effort more impossible. Without losing a crucial moment, they intimated it to the NDRF team. The team in two boats reached at the spot and rescued the man who had lost his consciousness by the time the operation ended.
Later the man was identified as Ashok Som (40), a resident of Sunapur square under Chandipur police limits. He had been missing since Thursday night and his family members were searching for him at different places. On being informed, his family members reached at the hospital.
Ashok’s relatives and local people extolled the eight youths for their presence of mind and exploit. A probe is on to ascertain as to how Som reached the beach, police said.
PNN
