Bhubaneswar, Dec 26: Two tourists lost their lives after drowning at Sitakunda waterfall, a popular picnic and tourist destination located at the foothills of the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, on Friday. The tragic incident occurred under the Shamakhunta block limits, sending shockwaves among visitors and locals alike.

According to sources, a group of tourists from Bhadrak district had arrived at Sitakunda earlier in the day to enjoy a picnic. While spending time near the natural pond formed at the base of the waterfall, three members of the group reportedly slipped and fell into the deep water. One of them was rescued immediately by fellow tourists and locals present at the spot. However, the other two were swept away and went missing due to the depth of the pond and the extremely cold water.

After being alerted, police and fire services personnel rushed to the site and launched a search operation. Fire services officials later recovered the bodies of the two victims from the pond. The bodies are being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Baripada for post-mortem examination. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident.

Sitakunda, also known as Sitakund, is a scenic waterfall and a major attraction near Similipal. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over safety measures at popular tourist spots, especially during picnics and group outings.

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