The report of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Northern Division on the February 9 boat tragedy in the Hirakud Dam reservoir in Sambalpur district was finally submitted to the Home Department on Monday night.
RDC Dr PK Meherda, who was assigned the task of conducting an administrative probe into the tragedy that claimed 31 lives, submitted his 22-page report based on depositions by 51 persons including officials along with his own observations and recommendations.The tragedy had taken place when members of the Sambalpur lions Club were returning from a picnic party held at a dam reservoir island. The boat was overcrowded and all the victims were members of the lions Club and their families.
Dr Meherda did not disclose the contents of his report and said the Government would study the report and take its own decision and action.It may be recalled that the Home Department in a letter to the RDC on February 19 had asked him to submit a report by April 19 on the cause of the mishap, people responsible for it and measures that should be taken to prevent recurrences of such tragedies in future.However, the report was delayed for varied administrative reasons, including the general elections in the State, sources said.
