Bhadrak, April 2: What began as a social media reel attempt turned tragic after the body of a missing youth was recovered following a river jump incident in Bhadrak district.
The incident had occurred near Santhia Bridge under Puruna Bazaar police limits, where a group of youths from Keonjhar, currently working in Bhadrak, were shooting a reel while jumping into the Salandi river.
The youths, identified as Himanshu Sekhar Nayak and Mithun Nayak, attempted the risky stunt along with another friend who was recording the video. Himanshu jumped first and managed to swim back to safety. However, Mithun, who followed him, went missing in the strong current.
After hours of search operation, police and fire services teams recovered Mithun’s body from the river, confirming fears of a tragic outcome.
Police have detained the youth who was filming the reel. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over the growing obsession with social media reels and the dangers of performing risky stunts.
The rising obsession with social media reels and selfies has led to several tragic incidents across Odisha in recent times:
Koraput tragedy (Duduma waterfall):
A 22-year-old YouTuber from Berhampur, identified as Sagar Tudu, was swept away by strong currents while filming a reel at Duduma waterfall. The water level suddenly increased due to dam discharge, leaving him stranded before being washed away.
Sundargarh bridge fall incident:
In a shocking case, a truck driver died after falling nearly 80 feet from a bridge while shooting a reel. He had stopped his vehicle to capture scenic visuals when he slipped and fell, leading to his death.
River Selfie Death (Western Odisha):
A woman reportedly lost her life after slipping into a river while taking a selfie near the Ib river. The incident, captured moments before the mishap, highlighted the dangers of taking selfies near water bodies.
Berhampur YouTuber Incident (Waterfall Shooting):
Another similar case involved a young content creator being swept away while filming near a waterfall, raising concerns over safety at tourist locations
