Seven people die after boat capsizes in Mahanadi river, several feared missing

BHUBANESWAR: Seven people died after a boat capsized in the Mahanadi River in Odisha on Saturday. As per district collector Karthikeya Goyal, the search is continuing for the missing people. A boat carrying passengers from Patharseni Kuda to Banjipalli in Bargarh district capsized near Sarada Ghat.

One body was recovered on Friday night while six dead bodies were brought to the surface on Saturday morning. According to Senior police officer Chintamani Pradhan, seven people are still missing. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force from Bhubaneswar is searching. Scuba divers have also been deployed for the operation.

BJP local leader Suresh Pujari alleged that the boat did not have a license.

"The boat was denied a fitness certificate by the authorities. There were no lifeguards in it," he told a national media.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who died in the boat accident. Officials said that an investigation has been initiated.

A few days ago, some students died after their boat capsized in the Jhelum River in Srinagar. About twenty people were in the boat. The rescue operations in the area were carried out under the leadership of the State Disaster Response Force.