John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, June 04: In a tragic incident near the Pongi Balu area, a forest department employee named Raju, aged 52, reportedly drowned while attempting to swim out to an untethered dinghy. The incident occurred on Friday evening.
Mr. Raju, a regular employee of the forest department and a resident of the Rut Islands forest camp, was returning from Pongi Balu to Rut Islands when he missed his forest dinghy due to a delayed arrival. By the time he reached the shore, the dinghy had already moved a short distance away. In a desperate attempt to catch up, Mr. Raju decided to swim out to the boat, but he encountered strong sea currents that overwhelmed him. Tragically, he disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
The individuals in the dinghy had warned Raju not to attempt the swim. However, he disregarded their advice and ventured into the water. Concerned for his safety, the occupants of the dinghy promptly informed the camp officer and the local police station in Ograbraj.
A joint operation involving the police and forest department was swiftly launched. The team, including divers, arrived at the scene and initiated a thorough search for Mr. Raju. After an extensive effort, the diving team discovered his lifeless body this morning at approximately 6:30 AM, not far from where he had drowned. The police have registered a case of unnatural death at the Ograbraj Police Station, and investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
