At least seven people were reportedly killed after a boat carrying around 50 people capsized in t🔯he Mahanadi river in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Saturday. The incident had occurred on Friday.
The reports♓ said a search and rescue operation has been꧂ launched to locate missing persons. Earlier, it was said that around six to seven persons were missing.
The boat was carrying passengers from Bargarh𒁏 district's Bandhipali area, when midway through the journey it encoun🌊tered turbulent waters, leading it to capsize near Saradha Ghat in Jharsuguda.
On Friday evening, the officials had said the search operation for the missing people with aid from the Jharsuguda district administratio🌼n, as well as from the state government has been launched.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a♑n ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for thꦗe next of kin of the deceased.
A local BJP leader Suresh▨ Pujari has reportedly alleged the "boat was operating without a valid licence".
"It was not accorded a fitness certificate by the authorities co🌳ncerned and there was no lifeguard on it," he was♌ quoted as saying by the PTI news agency.
He also claimed that the boat was overcrowded and🅰 was carrying 𝓀passengers beyond its capacity.
Mea🦂nwhile, district authorities said ꦑthat the incident will be investigated.
