Jajpur: An elderly couple from Andhra Pradesh drowned in a river in Odisha’s Jajpur district Thursday while trying to rescue their daughter and nephew, who had ventured into deep water while taking a holy dip, police said.
The deceased were identified as M Srinivas Sulu (65) and his wife M Devi (61), residents of the Palamaneru area in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district, they said.
The couple came to Jajpur with family members, including their daughter, nephew, daughter-in-law and son-in-law, to visit the Biraja temple.
Before visiting the temple, the couple, their daughter and nephew went to take a holy dip in the Baitarani river near Daswasamedha Ghat, police said.
While bathing, the couple noticed that their daughter and nephew had moved into deeper waters and were struggling to return to the shore. They rushed into the river and managed to bring the two to safety, but got into difficulty themselves, police said.
On hearing cries for help, locals alerted emergency services. Fire Service personnel from Jajpur town reached the spot and rescued the couple in critical condition.
They were taken to the Jajpur district headquarters hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
