Three drown in Sonepur boat capsize

Sonepur: Two persons drowned and another went missing when a boat in which they were travelling capsized in Mahanadi river at Telenda Ghat of Ulunda block in Odisha’s Sonepur district on Monday.

Reports said 11 persons of Saradhapali village were on the way to Ulunda village in a country boat when the boat lost its balance due to strong wind and capsized near Telenda Ghat.

While some people managed to swim ashore, some people present near the river bank rescued some people. But despite their best efforts, they could not save three women who drowned in the river.

While the body of Sashi Mahalik (60) was fished out, another woman Kamphal Bagarti, who was rescued in a critical condition, died on the way to the district headquarters hospital.

Talking about the incident, Akrura Mahalik, an eyewitness, said the people were on the way to Ulunda village for the darshan of the Lord when the boat lost balance due to strong wind and capsized after water entered into it.

Till reports last came in, Ulunda police and the Fire brigade team of Sonepur were still on a search operation to trace out the body of Jesti Mahalik, an 80-year-old woman.