Malkangiri: Rickety boat capsize incidents have claimed 16 lives in last six years alone in this district, a report said.
Sources said, in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively three and four persons died in country boat capsize incidents in Mathili block. In 2015-16 two people lost their lives in a similar incident in Kudumulugumma, and one in Chitrakonda block. In Chitrakonda block two persons drowned as the boat they were travelling in capsized in 2016-17. While 2017-18 did not witness any boat tragedy in the district, in 2018-19 Kudumulugumma boat capsize mishap claimed four lives.
People here in different parts of the district have the government to blame for such mishaps time and again. They have alleged that government officials are not checking with the ghats, if they have boats in good condition and life jackets and other equipments are available.
In search of work or business or to get official work done at various offices, everyday hundreds of people in this district sail close to the wind while going from one end to the other. Balimela and Satiguda reservoirs and rivers like Sileru, Saberi, Saptadhara, Tamasha, Poteru and Pangam witness maximum footfall in the state. And there are hundreds whose livelihood solely depends on fishing go into Balimela and Satiguda reservoirs on a regular basis risking their lives.
In particular the fishing communities and about 151 families of Swabhiman area cross the rivers and rivulets on a daily basis.
As per the government sources the number of ghats has has been reduced to 40 from 48 this year due to various reasons. From these ghats people take country boats.
Sources also say that 250 life jackets and 50 lifebuoys have been provided to these ghats.
In reality however, there is no one from the government to check whether these ghats provide the life-saving equipments to the commuters.
Frequent boat mishaps in this district and in other districts making headlines, however the government is always caught napping in view of any such matter.
This apart, accumulating more number of commuters than the prescribed limit in country boats is a big reason for such mishaps.
People demand enough life jackets and lifebuoys should be provided to all the ghats to check the tragedies.
PNN