Paddari Online Desk: A major accident took place in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Friday evening. A boat full of passengers overturned in Mahanadi near Lakhanpur here. More than 50 passengers were traveling in this boat. Till Saturday morning, three bodies have been recovered from the river. But the death toll is likely to rise as seven people, including women and children, are still missing. Rescue operations are underway at the scene. 48 people were rescued from this accident.
According to eyewitnesses, all these are residents of the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. The boat was going from Kharseni in Chhattisgarh to Patharseni in Ambabhona in Bargad district. Local fishermen were there when the boat capsized. He bravely saved more than 40 people.
Meanwhile, heavy waves in Mahanadi are causing difficulties in rescue operations. Five scuba divers with two underwater search cameras are searching for the missing people at the scene. Rescue teams from Bhatli, Bargad, Lakhanpur and Sambalpur are also conducting rescue operations.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed grief after learning of the loss of life in the boat accident. He has announced an aid of 4 lakhs to the families of the deceased.
