Balugaon: An assistant boatman was arrested Monday in connection with the Chilika boat tragedy that claimed six lives June 16.
He has been identified as Arjun Behera. Earlier, owner of the boat Basant Behera was arrested.
Notably, the preliminary investigation report submitted by the Directorate of Ports and Inland Water Transport ruled out any technical failure and held the ‘heavy wind’ responsible for the capsizing of the boat.
After receiving the report June 22, commerce and transport secretary G Srinivas said that the Khurda district administration had provided 20 life jackets to the owner of the boat against its seating capacity of 15 persons. But the boat-owner did not use the equipment on the day.