Two persons missing as country boat capsizes

Two persons went missing when an overcrowded country boat in which they were travelling capsized in Baitarani river in Odisha's Jajpur district today, officials said.
The mishap occurred this evening when the overcrowded boat was on its way to Palasahi ghat in Dasarathapur block in Jajpur district from Husanabad ghat of Dhamnagar police station limits in the neighbouring Bhadrak district.
"The country boat carrying 20 people along with some bi-cycles and motor bikes capsized midstream in the swollen Baitarani river after it left Husanabad ghat. As many as 12 people including the boatman swam to safety while six others including two women were rescued by locals. Two others are still missing," said Jajpur Collector Anil Kumar Samal.

Samal said the weather was bad when the boat capsized. Water level in the river is rising for the past two days due to incessant rain in the catchment areas, he added.
Fire brigade personnel from Jajpur have been pressed into service to trace the missing persons.
The District collector, Jajpur Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar rushed to the spot to supervise rescue operations being carried out by the district administration along with fire brigades personnel.