14-yr-old drowns after slipping into canal in Kendrapada

Kendrapada: An unidentified 14-year-old boy drowned after allegedly slipping into a canal while collecting plastic bottles at Kajala village in Kendrapada town on Tuesday afternoon.Police said the incident occurred around 3.30 pm. Fire services personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.

The boy, reportedly a ragpicker, was pulled out about 30 minutes later and taken to the district headquarters hospital, where doctors declared him dead.“The deceased has not yet been identified. The body has been sent to the district headquarters hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination,” said Kendrapada Town police station IIC Suvendu Sahoo.Police have registered a case and are working to establish the boy’s identity. Further investigation is underway.