Tragedy Strikes Odisha: Boat Capsizes in Mahanadi River Leaving Two Dead and Seven Missing

In a tragic incident on Friday, two individuals lost their lives, and seven others, including four women and three children, went missing after a boat capsized in the Mahanadi River in Odisha's Jharsuguda district. The boat was carrying approximately 50 passengers from the Kharsia area in neighboring Chhattisgarh. They were returning from a visit to a temple in Patharseni Kuda in Odisha's Bargarh district when the mishap occurred near Sarada Ghat in Rengali police station's vicinity.

Local fishermen managed to rescue 35 passengers, bringing them safely to the bank. Additionally, police and fire services personnel successfully rescued seven more individuals. However, efforts to locate the seven missing passengers are ongoing, with a comprehensive search operation underway. The search teams are determined to continue their efforts until every missing person is found.

Northern Range IG Himansu Lal confirmed the deployment of four search teams, including at least five scuba divers and two underwater search cameras, to aid in the operation. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel are also actively participating in the search and rescue efforts. High-level officials, including Chief Secretary P.K. Jena and Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu, are closely monitoring the situation from Bhubaneswar. Meanwhile, on-site supervision is being carried out by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Jharsuguda District Collector, and SP.

The scuba divers and underwater search cameras were swiftly transported to the site via a special flight from Bhubaneswar. In response to this tragic event, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased victim.

Local Bargarh MP and senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari, who visited the accident site, raised concerns about the boat's operation without a valid license or fitness certificate. He also highlighted the absence of a lifeguard on board and pointed out that the boat was significantly overcrowded, carrying around 50 people which exceeded its capacity.

While district authorities have acknowledged these concerns, they emphasized that the immediate priority remains the rescue of the missing individuals. An investigation into the incident will be conducted to ascertain the causes and prevent future occurrences.