Missing Dhenkanal Student Found Safe in Cuttack After 17 Days

Bhubaneswar: A Class 10 student from Dhenkanal district, who had been missing for 17 days, was safely rescued from Salipur in Cuttack on Sunday, police confirmed.

The student, identified as Sumit Kumar Mahapatra, studied at Adarsha Vidyalaya, Ankarantipur. According to police sources, Sumit had gone missing from his school hostel on October 24, 2025, reportedly due to mental distress. After leaving the hostel, he travelled to Cuttack in a private vehicle and took shelter at a local resident’s house in Salipur.

Sumit’s parents traced him after receiving social media updates and phone calls from the family that had sheltered him. They immediately informed the police, leading to a coordinated rescue effort.

“With the help of the media and police cooperation, we got our child back. I express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone,” said Lulu Mahapatra, Sumit’s father.

Dhenkanal Sadar IIC Priyabrata Das stated, “We received reliable information that the child was in Salipur. A team from Dhenkanal, with assistance from local police, rescued him safely.”

Sumit has since been reunited with his family and is reported to be in stable condition.