Kendrapara boat capsize: Death toll rises to 9; CM announces ex-gratia

Kendrapara: The death toll in the boat capsize incident in Mahanadi river mouth near Nipania in Kendrapara reached nine after eight more bodies were recovered late last night.

All the deceased including two women and seven children have been identified as residents of Hasina village in Kujang area of Jagatsinghpur. As per latest reports, one person is still missing.

Sources said as many as 55 passengers were returning after a picnic at the Light House at Hukitola island of the Mahanadi river for the New Year, when the mishap occurred. Out of the total passengers travelling in the boat, 45 persons are safe.

After getting information about the mishap last evening, fire brigade and coast guard teams reached the spot and carried out rescue operations till 3 am on Thursday.

The bodies will be brought to Chaumuhana in Paradip in a boat of the Forest department and later sent to the hospital for post mortem, added sources.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to next of kin of deceased and free medical treatment to the injured.

Transport Minister Nrusingha Sahu stated a probe has been ordered and action will be taken after getting the report.

"IWD Director & Executive Engineer along with department officials present at the spot for a probe. Action will be taken based on reports. We have enforced strict rules but public awareness is required: #Odisha Transport Minister Nrusingha Sahu on #KendraparaBoatCapsize pic.twitter.com/WmVMjb8Pr8

— OTV (@otvnews) January 3, 2019

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed sadness over the incident:

କେନ୍ଦ୍ରାପଡା ହୁକିଟୋଲା ବତୀଘରରୁ ପିକନିକ ସାରି ଡଙ୍ଗାରେ ଫେରୁଥିବାବେଳେ ମହାନଦୀ ମୁହାଣର ନିପାଣିଆ ନିକଟରେ ଡଙ୍ଗା ବୁଡିବା ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ମର୍ମାହତ । ମୃତକଙ୍କ ପରିବାରକୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଆହତଙ୍କ ଆଶୁ ଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି । ନିଖୋଜ ଥିବା ଯାତ୍ରୀ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ଉଦ୍ଧାର ହେବେ ବୋଲି ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି। https://t.co/nKecSYJ8F0

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) January 2, 2019

Former MP Baijayant 'Jay' Panda also expressed grief over the incident and stated in a tweet message:

R.I.P?
Woke to awful news of 9 deaths from a boat capsizing in my Kendrapada, Odisha.
After every such tragedy (thr've been many), the state govt announces it will strictly enforce rules banning boats' overloading & requiring life vests / inflatable tubes on board, but does not. https://t.co/J3QkgUrwWn

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) January 3, 2019

OPCC cheif Niranjan Patnaik condoles the loss of nine lives in the bopat accident:

"My deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the boat accident which includes seven children and two women. I pray to Lord Jagannath for a speedy recovery of those who are injured," tweets #Odisha Congress Chief Niranjan Patnaik

— OTV (@otvnews) January 3, 2019