Balasore: Minor girl goes missing minutes before Prathamastami celebration, found dead

Balasore: In a heart-wrenching incident, a minor girl went missing minutes before her Prathamastami celebration and was later found dead in Odisha’s Balasore district on Sunday.

According to reports, Umakant Pradhan and Upamita Pradhan of Nima village under Basta Police station limits of the district had made all arrangements for her 2.5-year-old only daughter, Saismita. They had bought a new dress for her and made the enduri pitha/haldi patra pitha.

However, their happy moment of the Prathamastami celebration was marred after Saismita went missing since 9 AM yesterday. They launched a search operation to find out her.

Some villagers also helped the Pradhan family in their bid to search Saismita. After failing to trace her, the family members filed a complaint with Basta Police.

Based on the complaint, cops started an investigation. They questioned some locals as panic of her kidnapping gripped the area. Shockingly, she was found dead in the village pond.

Police are trying to find out whether Saismita died after drowning or someone dumped her body in the body after killing her.

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on Nima village following the unfortunate death of the minor girl while the people across the State were busy celebrating the Prathamastami.