Puri: At least 17 passengers had a narrow escape after a boat ferrying them capsized in Chilika brackish water lake here last evening.
As per the report, the victims identified as residents of Badakul and Chandrapur villages of the same district had been to take part in a picnic in Kalijai Peetha yesterday and were returning post it boarding three vessels when the mishap took place.
The capsizing of one boat took place 12km away from Barakul inside the lake.
While around 11 persons were rescued from the water by fishermen and were ferried ashore admitted to Balugaon CHC for treatment, two of them were later shifted to MKCG Medical in Berhampur.
Later, a joint team of Navy, Fire Services Department and ODRAF rescued the rest passengers from the jaws of death following an operation in Chilika.
Update:
Three boat owners have been arrested so far in this connection.
Ms Kalinga