ODRAF Boat Capsize In Mahanadi: ADG RK Sharma Begins Probe, Visits Accident Site

Bhubaneswar: Additional Director General (ADG) (Law and Order) RK Sharma has started conducting investigation into the ODRAF boat mishap in Mahanadi that led to the death of a journalist of electronic media and an ODRAF personnel missing on Friday.

The investigation will include different aspects of the mishap. Besides the circumstances that led the boat to capsize in the flood water, the probe will cover why journalists were allowed to board the boat to accompany the ODRAF personnel who were going in a rescue mission.

Carrying out the preliminary investigation, Sharma visited the place on the river bank close to the spot where the boat had capsized.

Earlier on the day, five ODRAF personnel had gone in an operation to rescue a tusker that was trapped in the floodwater of the river near Manduli bridge in Cuttack. Two journalists of a local TV channel including reporters Arindam Das and Pravat Sinha had accompanied the IDRAF team in the powerboat of firefighters.

As the boat reached middle of the flooded river, its engine failed and it was pulled in by the strong current of water. Five of them were rescued in a critical condition and rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Arindam was declared brought dead at the hospital. While the condition of Pravat, who is in the ICU of the medicine department, is stated to be critical, ODRAF personnel Sitaram Murmu is yet to be traced.

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