Bhubaneswar, April 23: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik have expressed deep sorrow over the death of Prashant Satapathy, an accounts officer from Odisha’s Balasore district, who was killed in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Prashant Satapathy, an employee of the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Bhubaneswar, was on a short vacation to Jammu and Kashmir with his wife and son when tragedy struck. The attack also claimed the lives of several other tourists, including Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal from Karnal.
Chief Minister Majhi is scheduled to visit Satapathy’s native village, Saragaon, under Remuna block in Balasore district, tomorrow morning to meet the bereaved family in person and offer his condolences.
Meanwhile, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik spoke over the phone with Susant Satapathy, the elder brother of the deceased. He conveyed his heartfelt sympathies and assured the family of full support during this difficult time.
Recalling the devastating moment, Susant Satapathy said, "We received the information around 3 PM. When we called the toll-free number, they only informed us of my younger brother’s death. We still have no information about his wife's or son’s condition. An Additional DSP has contacted me regarding the matter.”
This incident marks one of the deadliest terror strikes in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. While the exact number of casualties is yet to be officially confirmed, security forces have intensified operations to track down the perpetrators. The attack has left the tourist hub of Pahalgam eerily deserted, and several organizations have called for a bandh in Jammu in protest.
