Nilagiri: Two Class X students of Ratnakar Town High School in Nilagiri of Baleshwar district, who went missing October 15, were rescued by their family members from Chennai Saturday morning, bringing relief to their anxious parents after a search spanning over nine-days.
The students were identified as Ayush Kumar Pati, son of Babita Mohapatra of Baligohiri village, and Akash Singh, son of Mini Singh of Ambudia village under Khantapada police limits in Baleshwar district. According to sources, the two students went to school October 15 but were found missing from the premises around 1:30pm. School authorities immediately informed their parents.
Subsequently, the mothers of both students lodged separate missing complaints at Nilagiri police station. Police registered two separate cases (471/26 and 472/26) and launched a search operation at various locations. Meanwhile, family members of the missing students searched extensively across Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak districts.
Carrying photographs of the boys, they approached strangers and appealed for information about their whereabouts. The search ended after a Bhadrak resident living in Chennai spotted the two students at a railway station and informed their families. Acting on the information, family members reached Chennai and rescued the boys Saturday morning.
The reason behind the students’ disappearance remains unclear. Nilagiri police station inspector-in-charge said further details about the circumstances surrounding the students’ disappearance would emerge after their family members return.