Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Man Rescued After Five Days Clinging to Palm Tree
Sunanda Behera was carried away by strong floodwater in Odisha.
People searched for him but could not find him for five days.
Then villagers travelling by boat saw him holding onto a palm tree.
They called a rescue team for help.
Rescuers reached him and brought him safely to shore.
Sunanda was very weak because he had gone without food.
He was taken to a hospital for urgent treatment.
Rescue teams were also helping many other people and animals affected by the floods.
Sunanda Behera was swept away by floodwaters from the Pochara river in Bhadrak district.
Villagers found him clinging to a palm tree in the flooded Bajapati field area after five days.
The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force rescued him through the floodwaters.
Behera was reportedly without food for five days and was found severely weak and exhausted.
Officials said 1,000 people and 150 domestic animals had been rescued across six flood-hit districts.
- Who
- Sunanda Behera was rescued by villagers and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force.
- What
- He survived five days clinging to a palm tree after being swept away by floodwaters.
- When
- He was rescued on Tuesday, after five days in the floodwaters.
- Where
- In the Bajapati field area of Bhadrak district, Odisha, near the Pochara river.
- Why
- He had been swept away by surging floodwaters and survived by holding onto a palm tree.
- Survivor
- Sunanda Behera of Balipatana village
- Rescue duration
- Five days after he went missing
- Rescue location
- Bajapati field area, Bhadrak district
- Rescue agency
- Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force
- Medical condition
- Extremely weak and exhausted; his condition was described as serious
- Other rescues
- About 1,000 people and 150 domestic animals
- Response effort
- 125 firefighter teams operating across six flood-hit districts