KalingaTV News Network
Angul: While it is almost 24 hours since a group of workers of a private agency drowned in Samal Barrage here following a boat capsize during a soil testing drive yesterday, the ODRAF team engaged in rescue work still remain empty handed.
A ten member team which had been engaged on rescue at the barrage since last afternoon stopped the operation in the night due to darkness and started it again this morning. However, due to the depth of the channel and the water level they failed to trace the bodies of at least two missing labourers.
“The water level in the barrage remains at 40 feet and is also accompanied by prevailing strong current. It poses a difficulty in the rescue operation. However, we are trying our level best to find out the missing victims,” informed Haracharan Das, leader of the ODRAF team.
The mishap took place at around 2.30 PM yesterday while at least five employees of Cuttack based Orbital Infrastructure Consultancy and Research Private Limited were busy in soil testing inside the barrage. The boat they were boarding sunk mid water following a sudden release of water from the Barrage . While at least three labourers managed to swim across to the shore to save their lives, Engineer Ramesh Stapathy of Berhampur and labourers Ashok Aicha of Parjang village went missing in the water.
Ms Kalinga