2 killed, 3 missing as boat capsizes in Odisha’s Chilika lake

Bhubaneswar: At least two persons were killed and three others went missing when a country boat in which they were travelling capsized in in Chilika lagoon in Ganjam district of Odisha this afternoon. Eight others were rescued.

The deceased, a minor girl, has been identified as Sradhanjali Das and her mother who were travelling with her family members.

According to reports, the boat was capsized due to strong wind and rain in the middle of the lake while returning towards Balugaon from Kalijai temple.

“The boat capsized at around 6 pm. On being informed, our team rushed to the spot and rescued 12 people. Of these, a minor girl died and the condition of other three was serious,” said Balugaon Fire Officer Nityananda Jena adding around 30 personnel were engaged in the rescue operation.

Total 16 people including the boat man were in the boat while the mishap took place, Jena added.

All twelve persons were rescued by onlookers, volunteers and fire brigade personnel and admitted to Balugaon Community Health Centre (CHC). Later, two among them were shifted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar as their condition turned serious.

Among the missing four people are residents of Jharpada area of Bhubaneswar, sources said.

Most of the passengers were locals who had gone to visit Kalijai temple. It is yet to known whether the boat was overloaded or not.

Sources said rescue teams comprising personnel of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire department officers are busy in rescue operation.

Search operation is still on and will also continue in the night for the missing persons, Jena informed.

A team of at least 40 personnel comprising of fire officers, ODRAF, naval academy members, police personnel were engaged in the operation.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death of the child and directed to provide free medical treatment to the injured. The CM further directed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Khordha and Ganjam district administration to expedite rescue operation.

Similarly, three persons were killed and eight others went missing after an overloaded country boat carrying 29 passengers capsized in Chilika in December, 2016.

Chilika lake is Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon with water spread ranging from 1165 sq km in the rainy season to 906 sq km in the summer season is nestled in the heart of the coastal Odisha.