Sambalpur (Odisha) – Odisha witnessed a heart-wrenching tragedy today as two final-year MBBS students from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) lost their lives in a drowning incident at the Deojharan waterfall. What began as a routine leisure trip turned fatal for the group of six students who had ventured to the scenic tourist spot for a mid-day break.
According to initial reports, the group had arrived at Deojharan waterfall, a well-known tourist destination nestled in Kayakuda panchayat under Jujumura block of Sambalpur district. While enjoying a bath in the waterfall, two of the students—identified as Sandeep Puri (24) from Najafgarh in Delhi and Monika Meena (24) from Mount Abu in Rajasthan—were swept away by the strong current.
Upon receiving the distress call, fire brigade personnel reached the location promptly and pulled the duo out of the water. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared them dead on arrival, leaving their friends, the VIMSAR community, and families in shock and grief.
Both victims were in the final stretch of their medical studies, preparing to soon serve society as doctors. Their untimely demise has sparked an outpouring of condolences and raised fresh concerns about safety measures at natural tourist sites like Deojharan. The site, though officially recognized by the state government as a tourism spot, continues to witness hundreds of visitors without consistent supervision or warning systems in place during high-risk conditions.
Following the incident, the Superintendent and Dean of VIMSAR immediately visited the location to take stock of the situation. The local police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The loss of two promising lives has cast a pall over the medical fraternity and the state at large. As Sambalpur mourns, questions linger over how such tragedies can be prevented in the future at frequently visited natural sites.
