Strong Wind Cause Of Chilika Boat Tragedy: Report

Photograph: Suprakash Mishra

Bhubaneswar: Strong wind was the cause of the tragic boat mishap in Chilika Lake in the afternoon on June 16. This was revealed in a probe report submitted by the Director of Port and Inland Water Transport to the Odisha government on Friday.

“The report has further said that while the boat had a maximum capacity of 15 passengers, it had 20 life jackets,” principal secretary, Commerce and Transport, G Srinivas told mediapersons here.

However, the report has not mentioned why the passengers were not given the life jackets.

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 on Saturday, those of four others were fished out of the lake during the 17-hour search operation.