13 Odisha Players Stranded in Pokhara, Families Relieved
A 13-member Odisha football team, including players and a coach, was stranded in Nepal following flash floods that disrupted communication and transport.
The team, currently in Pokhara, is confirmed safe by their coach.
Among those stranded are players Premananda Rout, Biswajit Barik, Naitik Kumar, Ritesh Kumar, and Piyush Kumar.
Their families faced anxious hours as phone lines remained unreachable due to damaged infrastructure.
The scheduled football match was postponed, while the Odisha government swiftly set up a control room in New Delhi to assist stranded citizens.
Helpline numbers have been issued: 7428135044, 8527580245, and 011-23012807.
Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty at the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate support.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of sporting delegations during natural disasters and the importance of rapid government response.
