Kendrapada: An eight-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man went missing after a country boat carrying six people capsized in Tantighai river in Jajpur district on Thursday morning. Four others were rescued by locals.The boat was ferrying passengers from Mahammadjamapur village to Danarkul village when it overturned midstream. The missing have been identified as Anirudha Dalei (8) and Mania Dalei (22).Of the four rescued, Hemalata Dalei (75) and Uma Dalei (55) were admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Jajpur for treatment, Jajpur Sadar tehsildar Rabinarayan Padhi said.A joint search operation involving fire services personnel and local fishermen was launched to trace the missing duo. “The strong river current has reduced chances of survival,” an official said.According to eyewitnesses, the boat lost balance and suddenly capsized, throwing all passengers into the water. Villagers and people travelling in another boat rushed to the spot and rescued the survivors. “The boat sank close to the riverbank, which helped save several lives. Had it capsized further away, the toll could have been higher, especially in this crocodile-infested river,” said Jiban Dalei, a local resident who witnessed the incident.The mishap has once again highlighted risks faced by residents of riverside villages, many of whom depend on country boats for daily travel. Hundreds of passengers continue to criss-cross rivers in small boats, often without adequate safety measures.Jajpur collector Ambar Kumar Kar said wearing life jackets on passenger boats is mandatory and private boat owners are required to obtain fitness certificates from the inland water transport department. “Boat operators have been directed to provide life jackets to passengers and travellers have been advised not to board boats without them. Strict action would be taken against operators violating safety norms,” he said.
