Kendrapara: Around 30 high school students had a narrow escape when their rickety country boat capsized in the Kani river at Madhuban Ghat.
Around 30 students, including girls, of Bangara village in Aul block Wednesday boarded a rickety boat at Madhuban Ghat to go to BCJ High School at Jari in the Binjharpur block of Jajpur district.
But the boat overturned after water entered it a short distance away from the ghat and the boatman lost control.
The students jumped into the river to save their lives. While some managed to survive by swimming to the banks, other students, including girls, were rescued by locals.
At several places in the district people depend on ferry boats due to lack of roads. The people here generally use the boats risking their lives as boat operators ferry people violating all the safety norms prescribed by the government after the Hirakud boat tragedy.
Although the government had directed the district administration to ensure that boats are not overcrowded and to check the registration and licenses of boats, it has not been done here.
Here people, including children, are seen travelling on boats without safety gear like lifebuoys and life jackets although the government had made them mandatory.
Collector Samarth Verma said that he has directed the Tehsildar of Aul and the Emergency Department to probe the incident.
Verma said that it’s a fact that safety measures are not being taken by boat operators. An awareness drive will be launched in the district regarding this. Officials will also verify whether the boat owners have valid documents and registration. The administration will also ban overcrowding in boats, the Collector said.
PNN
