Dhenkanal/ Bhuban: A 17-year-old girl drowned while four children went missing after an overloaded boat ferrying them to Doudeshwar Shiva temple near Karamula in Dhenkanal capsized in river Brahmani Monday.
The deceased was Rubina Rout, daughter of Mangaraj Rout of Surapratappur, and a student of Plus III. She was rescued and rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her brought dead.
The missing children were Satya Swain (8), Chikun Mohanty (9) Kalia Mohanty (13) and Bebina Rout of Surapratappur under Bhuban block. Police and fire officials with the help of locals rescued over 30 persons and admitted them to district headquarters hospital. The condition of three of them was stated to be critical. Chandini Rout (3) was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital.
The incident took place when over 35 persons of Surapratappur, Chandipal and Jayapura were travelling on a country boat, which had a capacity to ferry 15 persons, to Doudeshwar temple. The people were going to take part in Maha Shivratri celebration at the shrine. The boat capsized while it was nearing the river ghat in Karamula.
Police said most of the people in the boat have been rescued. “Four children remained untraced so far,” a police officer said.
Collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo and SP Nikhil Kumar Kanodia rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operations. PNN