Life jackets not used during Chilika boat tragedy: Odisha official

Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Ports and Inland Water Transport today submitted a report to the Odisha Government over the Chilika boat capsize which had claimed lives of six persons.

Briefing reporters about the submitted report, Transport Department Secretary G. Srinivas said the boat had a seating capacity of 15 persons while 20 life jackets were provided to the boatman. However, the life jackets were not used during the mishap, the official said.

“The boat capsized after being hit by strong winds. ‘Corrective action’ has been suggested in the report. We will submit it to the minister and after getting permission from the government, we will take measures in this regard,” he said.

Notably, a boat carrying 18 tourists capsized in the Chilika lake on July 16 evening after it was caught in a thunderstorm accompanied by strong wind and rain.