Bhubaneswar: The state government Monday ordered a probe into the boat mishap in Chilika lagoon at Balugaon in Ganjam district that claimed six lives including an eight-year-old girl and her mother.
While talking to the media, Commerce and Transport Minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu said the Director of the Port and Inland Water Transport has been asked to submit a detailed report to the government.
“On the basis of his report, the government will take appropriate action,” he added.
The minister said the director would investigate whether the ill-fated boat had life jackets for the tourists. He further said necessary steps would be taken to ensure that no such incident takes place in the future.
The incident took place June 16 afternoon when a country boat carrying 16 tourists capsized in the gorge of the lake, due to strong wind and thundershower, while they were returning from Kalijai Temple around 5.30 pm.
A team of at least 10 personnel comprising of the fire officers, ODRAF, naval academy members, Scuba divers, police and boatmen from the lake carried out the search operation to fish out the bodies.
While six tourists died, 10 others were rescued by the joint team.
While the bodies of two persons including the minor girl and her mother were recovered Saturday, that of four others were fished out of the lake after the 17-hour search operation.
Expressing grief, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased and free treatment to all the injured.
PNN