Berhampur: Two members of a family remained missing on Thursday, three days after a boat capsized in Kharga river near Daka under Baliguda police station limits in Kandhamal district. They were identified as Sunand Mallick (76) and his daughter-in-law, Rainki Mallick (37), both from Palasi village.Fire services personnel continued the search operation for the third day, but they remained untraceable till Thursday evening, police said. Sources said at least eight people were returning to Palasi village from Ejak village in Phiringia after attending a social function on Tuesday when the boat overturned midstream. While six passengers were rescued by residents, Sunand and Rainki went missing.Fire services personnel from Baliguda launched a search operation using an inflatable rescue boat, life buoys and life jackets. Rocky terrain and difficult river conditions hampered rescue efforts. “The scuba diving equipment could not be used effectively because of the terrain, but the search operation is continuing,” a fire services official said. Baliguda IIC S K Behera said police alerted nearby police stations and local sarpanches and asked them to inform authorities if any information about the missing persons is received. The search operation is ongoing.
