Odisha boat capsize: One dead, four missing

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Dhenkanal, Mar 8:

While a 18-year-old girl died at the hospital, four others still remained untraced till late Monday evening in the country boat capsize in river Brahmani at Chandipal ghat under Bhuban block in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district.

The deceased identified as Rubina Rout is a native of Surapratapur village under Bhuban block.

Both Rubina and another girl who were rescued in a critical condition were rushed to the government hospital at Bhuban.

While Rubina passed away, the other girl is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Still a young girl and three boys from the same village remain to be traced, reports said.

Rescue operations by ODRAF and Fire department personnel were on till reports last came in. It being dark, lights have been put up to facilitate rescue operations.

Minister Steel and Mines Prafulla Mallick, Dhenkanal district collector and superintendant of police are present at the spot and are supervising rescue operations.

As many as 24 villagers of Surapratappur village had boarded a country boat and were travelling to Lord Daudeswar’s shrine in Gondia block of the same district to witness jagar mela (Shivaratri celebrations). The mishap occurred when the boat after losing its balance capsized in the middle of river Brahmani.

While others managed to swim ashore, six went missing and later two of them were rescued in critical condition. Out of the two one succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.