Nine people were killed after a boat capsized in the Mahanadi river in Odisha’s Kendrapara district on Wednesday evening, PTI reported. The body of a woman was found shortly after the accident, while eight bodies were recovered during a search operation early on Thursday.
One person is still missing, according to district collector Dasarathy Satpathy. Two women in their 40s and seven children between the ages of seven and 10 died in the incident. They were all residents of Hasina village of Jagatsinghpur district.
The boat was carrying around 30 people, including several children, the Hindustan Times reported. “The boat capsized near the confluence point of the river and sea [the Bay of Bengal],” said Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Niti Shekhar.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced Rs 4 lakh each as compensation for the families of those who died and free treatment for those who were injured in the accident.
The group on the boat were picnicking at the Light House at Hukitola to celebrate the New Year, PTI reported. The boat capsized in Batighar creek when the group was returning after the picnic.
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