In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a boat brimming with approximately 50 passengers, including children and women, capsized in the Mahanadi River in Odisha’s Jharsuguda on Friday. The calamity claimed the lives of two individuals while leaving seven others unaccounted for. The search and rescue operation has enlisted the services of five skilled divers and is proceeding at a rapid pace. Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared a compensation of four lakh rupees for the families of the deceased.
The incident unfolded near the Mahanadi waters adjacent to Sarda within the Lakhanpur block. The identification of both the deceased and missing persons is yet to be confirmed, amplifying the anguish of their families and loved ones. Witnesses report that the boat, originally from Bandhipali in the Bargarh district, encountered its tragic fate near Sarda.
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'Fishermen rescued 35 passengers'
Reacting swiftly, local fishermen heroically saved 35 passengers. Upon receiving the news, police and firefighting units rushed to the scene and rescued seven more individuals. There are still seven people missing, and the search operation is ongoing. Nonetheless, the swift current of the Mahanadi is making the search challenging.
'CM Naveen Patnaik announces compensation'
Meanwhile, the efforts to locate the missing are continuing. The rescue team is endeavoring to bring them to safety, deploying all available resources. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in response to the tragedy, has announced compensation. He stated that a compassionate amount of four lakh rupees will be provided to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
