A young television journalist was swept away in the strong currents of the swollen Mahanadi in Cuttack on Friday while covering an operation to rescue an elephant stranded in the river.

Arindam Das, who worked for the news channel OTV, was swept away by the strong currents of the river, after a powerboat of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), in which they were carrying out the operation, capsized near the Mundali bridge, on the outskirts of Cuttack city, around 30km from here.

While Arindam was declared brought dead at the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, his colleague cameraperson Prabhat Sinha is battling for his life. A search is on for an ODRAF jawan who was also swept away.

Arindam and Prabhat had accompanied the five-member ODRAF team to cover the rescue operation from close quarters. However, the boat lost balance due to the strong currents of the river and capsized. Another ODRAF team started a rescue operation immediately after the incident.

Hospital emergency officer Bhubanananda Maharana confirmed Arindam’s death.

He said: “The cameraman’s condition is still critical but stable. The conditions of the three ODRAF personnel, who were also admitted to the hospital, is stable.”

The tusker, which was part of a herd of 17 elephants, was on its way to Chandaka from Nuasasana in Athagarh block in Cuttack district. While other elephants in the herd were able to cross the river, the tusker got stuck. It was caught in the swirling waters of the river and was stranded for over seven hours.

After getting information from locals, a team from the 6th battalion of the ODRAF and forest officials reached the spot and started the rescue operation. Arindam and Pravat joined the ODRAF team after donning life jackets as they wanted good visuals of the operation. But the powerboat could not withstand the assault of the turbulent river. The live-streaming of the operation was going on and Arindam was even heard saying that the boat was going to overturn. Everyone on the boat fell into the river within a matter of seconds. While six persons were rescued by another ODRAF team, Arindam and a jawan were swept away by the currents.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and others condoled the death of the journalist.