NHRC Issues Notice To Odisha & Chhattisgarh On Boat Capsize In Mahanadi

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments on the boat capsize in river Mahanadi that killed 8 people recently.

In its notices, the Commission has sought the action taken report from the chief secretaries of the two states and SPs of Jharsuguda in Odisha and Raigarh in Chhattisgarh on the tragic mishap.

The authorities of the two states have been asked to submit their reports on investigation into the case within 6 weeks of receiving the notices.

It may be noted that 8 persons, all residents of Anjoripalli village under Kharasia police station of Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh drowned as the boat carrying them capsized in Mahanadi in Jharsuguda district on April 20.

The incident occurred when the ill-fated boat, returning from Maa Patharseni Mandir to Saradha Ghat in Rengali of Jharsuguda with 50 passengers aboard, lost balance and capsized, leaving eight passengers missing. They included three women and three boys.

Soon after the boat capsize, local fishermen lunched rescue efforts and saved several passengers, but seven persons went missing. Next day, the search operation was resumed with the assistance of scuba divers and the ODRAF team from Bhubaneswar. The team recovered seven more bodies from Hirakud reservoir.