At least four persons were killed and seven others went missing after a country boat carrying 29 passengers capsized in the Chilika lake on early Saturday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Jitu Pradhan (30), Sahil Pradhan (3), Sapna Swain (18 month) and Siba Purohit.
The tagedy took place when the overloaded boat carrying as many as 31 people, including to boat staffs, was on its way to the Ghantasila hill from Sabulia ghat through the lake for picnic. The boat lost control and overturned midway after covering a distance of 1.5 km from the coast.
Thirteen persons were rescued by local boatmen and volunteers and admitted in the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Brahmapur and at the Rambha hospital.
Southern Range IG Amitabh Thakur who along with Ganjam Collector PC Choudhury rushed to the spot said teams comprising personnel of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Department officers were engaged in the rescue operation. He also ordered the local police for a probe into the tragedy.
“It would be too early to figure out what had exactly happened and about the number of casualties,” he said.
Meanwhile, a police case was lodged against boat owner Dutia Mallick and boatman Hatia Mallick for ferrying passengers in a fishing boat. They were booked under Sections 280, 304 of IPC, sources said.
On being informed, six teams of fire department and two ODRAF teams rushed to the spot for rescue operation.
“A high tide completely tilted the boat towards one side, following which the passengers fell into water,” said Mallick, the boatman.