Chilika Boat Capsize: Minister Assures Action Against Boat Owner

Bhubaneswar: A day after receiving the probe report from the Director, State Port and Inland Water Transport on the Chilika boat mishap, Commerce and Transport minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu on Saturday said action would be taken against the boat owner.

“According to the report submitted by the Port and Inland Water Transport director, apart from the strong wind, poor condition of the boat was also one of the causes of the tragic incident. There were small cracks in the boat which capsized after the lake water gushed in through them. Hence, action would be taken against the boat owner,” the minister told the mediapersons here.

He further said though the boat had 20 life jackets, the passengers were not provided with the life-saving kit.

Asked about the measures to be taken to ensure no recurrence of such incidents, Sahu said the report has suggested a number of proposals which will be implemented in letter and spirit.

“Henceforth, the district administration would engage a surveyor for each boat ferrying people inside the lake. The surveyors will ensure that each passenger wears the life jacket. Besides, each boat will be fitted with GPS navigation device to pinpoint its location inside the lake and provide advance weather information to the boatman,” he pointed out.

On June 16, a country boat carrying 15 passengers with two boatmen capsized in the gorge of the lake due to strong wind and thundershower while they were returning from Kalijai Temple at around 5.30 pm.

While six tourists died in the mishap, nine others were rescued by a joint team of the Balugan Boat Owners’ Association, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, Fire Brigade, local fishermen and scuba divers.

While the bodies of two persons were recovered late in the evening, those of four others were fished out of the lake during the 17-hour search operation the following day.