Boat Overturns in Koraput; 3 Victims Fished Out; 1 Still Missing

KORAPUT:  In an unfortunate incident, woman drowned and three others went missing after the country boat in which they were travelling capsized near Tentulipada ghat in Kolab reservoir, under Semiliguda police station limits of Koraput district, on Thursday afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Babita Hantal, a resident of Mukhibedai village. The missing trio has been identified as Rama Kirsani, Sabitri Kirsani and Kamu Baladi.

According to the police, a group of villagers from Mukhibedai had gone to Umbel village to attend a local tribal festival on Wednesday night. The accident took place while they were returning home the next day.

The boat capsized around 3 in the afternoon in the backwaters of Kolab reservoir, between Tentulipada and Umbel ghat.

“It is suspected that the boat may have capsized after it lost its balance,” Koraput sub-collector Benudhar Sabar said. He added, “Altogether eight persons were on the boat at the time of the accident. While four managed to swim to the riverbank, the rest went missing. We have recovered the woman’s body and a search operation is on to trace the other three.”

The search operation, which was stopped on Thursday evening due to lack of visibility, will be resumed early on Friday. “Besides the fire personnel, a team from ODRAF has been pressed into service as well,” Sabar added. The accident has shocked the villagers who frequently use the waterway to travel to nearby places.