An undertrial prisoner escaped from Soro sub-jail in Odisha’s Balasore district on Tuesday evening, prompting a police manhunt, officials said on Wednesday.

According to Sub-jailer Bailochan Das, the fugitive has been identified as Deepak Ray (30), a resident of Dhanbad, Jharkhand, who had been arrested on theft charges on October 19.

Ray reportedly made his escape by jumping over the prison wall using a blanket as a makeshift rope. The jailbreak came to light during the post-dinner roll call, when the jail staff noticed that one inmate was missing.

Following the incident, police teams have been deployed across Balasore and adjoining areas to track down the absconding prisoner. Authorities have also initiated an internal inquiry into the security lapse that enabled the escape.

This incident has raised concerns about security arrangements in sub-jails across the state, with the prison administration expected to review safety measures to prevent similar breaches in the future.