Baripada: A differently abled woman drowned while attempting to save her brother, who was swept away by strong currents in a canal in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, police said Saturday.
The incident took place at Mahlarpada village within Khunta police station limits Friday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Nandinidi Nayak (45) and her brother Parameswar (32), Aditya Prasad Jena, inspector-in-charge of Khunta police station, said.
Nandinidi had a physical disability affecting her legs, police said.
According to police, Parameswar was swept away by the strong current of a canal near his home when his sister jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue him.
“However, all her efforts proved futile against the strong current of the water and both died,” Jena said.
While Parameswar’s body was fished out of the canal, his sister’s body was recovered at some distance from the spot, police said. The canal is connected to the Naluha river in the district.
The incident cast a pall of gloom over the village.
Khunta police sent the bodies for post-mortem examinations and registered a case of unnatural death.
PTI