Berhampur, Sept. 10: Police rescued an engineering student from his residence late last night while he was playing the Blue Whale Challenge - a suicidal game that derives its curious name from the beaching tendency of the world's largest animal.

By the time cops rescued Chandan Prasad Khuntia, 27, from his Ralaba residence, 34km from here, he had already completed the fourth stage of the online game and etched a blue whale on his hand.

Hinjili police station inspector-in-charge Prasant Sahu said: "Police stopped the game after entering the house. Chandan is a diploma in electronics student at Sanjaya Memorial Institute of Technology. We rescued him after one of his friends informed us that he was playing the game on his phone."

Chandan had also posted about the game and a photograph of the blue whale etching on his hand on Facebook.

"We admitted Chandan to Hinjili Community Health Centre. But he was let off a few minutes later after the doctor on duty declared him fit. We also asked his parents to keep a strict vigil over him and discourage him from playing games that prompt the young to jump off buildings in the future," said Sahu.

Chandan's father, Tuna, a farmer, said: "Chandan is my only son and he often comes home late."

This is the first instance of anyone playing the killer game being reported from Ganjam district. The game is played via many social media platforms. The origins of the game and reportage surrounding it have been in central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, according to Balakrushna Sahu, a software expert.

Sahu said: "Parents can easily lock the game through applications such as Quick Heal to avoid any untoward situation concerning their children, especially those who lead an isolated life."

A similar case was reported from Mangalpur village in Kendrapara where a boy playing the game was rescued by members of his family. The matter has not been reported to the police.

The state government has already issued guidelines and urged people to motivate their children to avoid playing killer game.