Malkangiri, Sept 12: The fire department personnel Tuesday recovered the bodies of four persons who had gone missing in the Balimela reservoir under Nakamamudi panchayat of this district Monday.
As per sources, the deceased include three women and a child while three of them belonged to one family.
The deceased have been identified as Budri Sisha (70), Radhika Sisha (25), Dohara Sisha (40) and Tulasa Sisha (2).
Five teams from Malkangiri, Balimela, Khairput, Gumma and Mathili were engaged in rescue operation since Monday to trace the missing four.
According to police, the incident took place around 7 pm Monday while seven persons of Kenduguda were returning to the village after completing some agricultural activities near Darlabandha village under Orkel police limits in a country boat.
Suddenly, the boat capsized midway and all the seven persons fell in the water after the boatman lost balance. While three out of the seven swam to safety, four were missing since Tuesday.
“Owing to darkness, the rescue operation could not be carried out Monday night. Again, the fire tender team swung into action and fished out the bodies Tuesday after hours of search.
Soon after the bodies were recovered, they were sent to Chitrakonda government hospital for an autopsy, sources said.
Meanwhile, the local Tehsildar has assured compensation for the family of the deceased persons.
According to police, residents of around 50 villages of Nakamamudi panchayat situated inside the Balimela reservoir carry out cultivation at small hillock located inside the reservoir as the entire region is water-locked. With the help of small country boats, they reach the hills for agricultural activities.
“It is our daily routine. We have not been provided with any motor launch by the administration for which we travel in small country boats inside the reservoir which is very risk,” said a person, who swam to safety after the boat capsized.