## Boat Capsizes in Mahanadi River, Odisha
A boat carrying around 50 passengers capsized in the Mahanadi River near Saradha village in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Friday, April 19th. The incident resulted in the tragic death of two individuals, while seven others remain missing.
Following the incident, local residents initiated immediate rescue operations. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team, along with the local police, Collector, and SP, arrived at the scene to assist in the search and rescue efforts.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his condolences and confirmed coordination between the Jharsuguda district administration in Odisha and the Raigarh district administration in Chhattisgarh. Arrangements were made to transport the rescued passengers back to their villages in Kharsia by bus.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased. He also directed the district administration to provide proper medical care to those rescued and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The cause of the boat capsizing is currently under investigation. Initial reports suggest that the boat was carrying more passengers than its capacity, which may have contributed to the accident.
The local community has come together to offer support and prayers for the families affected by this tragedy. The search for the missing individuals continues, and authorities are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all those involved.