Chilika boat capsize toll increases to six

BHUBANESWAR: The death toll in the boat tragedy at Chilika lake in Odisha rose to six on Sunday after four more bodies were fished out by rescue personnel. The boat ferrying 16 people had capsized on Saturday after a thunderstorm lashed Asia’s biggest brackishwater lake. Fire personnel managed to rescue 10 persons and recovered the bodies of a minor girl and her mother on Saturday night. The bodies of the four missing were found on Sunday.

CM Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the kin of the deceased and free medical treatment for the injured. The mishap occurred at 6pm when the boat from Ranapur area of Nayagarh district was returning from Kalijai island to Balugaon, chief fire officer Sukanta Sethi said.