Odisha boat capsize: Rescue operation underway for 7 people

A search and rescue operation is currently underway to locate four women and three children who went missing after a boat carrying around 50 passengers capsized in the Mahanadi river in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Friday. At least two people were reportedly dead in the accident.

The boat was ferrying passengers from Bargarh district's Bandhipali area. Midway through the journey, the boat encountered turbulent waters, leading it to capsize near Saradha Ghat in Jharsuguda.

Addressing reporters late on Friday, District Collector Kartikeya Goyal said the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is continuing the search operation for the seven missing people with aid from the Jharsuguda district administration, as well as from the state government.

"We have received information that scuba divers will come from Bhubaneshwar to join the search operation. So far, we have rescued some 48 people and efforts are on to send them back to their villages," Goyal told reporters at the accident spot.

When asked if the search and rescue operation had been challenging during the nighttime, the District Collector said it was "challenging but not impossible".

"Divers from the ODRAF are very well-trained, they have night light equipment. They will carry out one more attempt and will be joined by a team of scuba divers as soon as they arrive," he added.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.

A local BJP leader, Suresh Pujari, alleged the "boat was operating without a valid licence".

"It was not accorded a fitness certificate by the authorities concerned and there was no lifeguard on it," he was quoted as saying by the PTI news agency.

He also claimed that the boat was overcrowded and was carrying passengers beyond its capacity.

Meanwhile, district authorities said that the incident will be investigated.

(With inputs from PTI)