Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed deep grief over the death of nine people in Hukitola boat tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs.4 lakh to the family members of each of the deceased.
The chief minister also expressed condolence to the bereaved families and ordered to provide free treatment to all the injured.
Seven minors and two women drowned when a mechanised speed boat ferrying picnic revellers from Hukitola to Paradip capsised near Nipania village on Batighar river under Jamboo Marine police station last night.
The NDRF, ODRF and fire officials have retrieved the bodies of eight persons so far and only an year old child remains untraced and efforts are on to trace the child’s body from the river.
About 55 people from Hasina village under Mangarajpur GP of Kujanga block had gone to Hukitola for picnic to celebrate the New Year.
The boat tilted and capsised on their way back home. While over 35 people swam to the shore, nine others remained untraced.
The local people, Jamboo marine police station personnel , NDRF, ODRF and fire officials launched the rescue operation after the incident.
Some of the rescued persons were admitted to Batighar PHC. (UNI)
