2 die as boat with 13 tourists on board capsizes in Chilika lake, bodies recovered

Krushnaprasad: As many as two tourists drowned to death after a boat capsized in Chilika lake today evening. Bodies of the deceased were recovered later in the day after a frantic search.

Around 13 persons were on board and at least 10 of them have been rescued. However, one person could manage to swim across and safely reach the shore at around 8 pm.

According to a source, the boat with 13 tourists capsized at Kalijai Kuda near Gambhari village under Brahmagiri police limits in Puri district. The tourists had gone to Kalijai for feasting.

Boatman of the ill-fated watercraft lost control over it on its way back and capsized. Local fishermen and a team of fire services personnel from Brahmagiri rescued the ten tourists. Ugrasen Das of Tuagaon could reach the shore on his own, an eyewitness and rescuer expressed.

The two deceased persons belonged to Puri district, but have not been identified yet.