Boat capsizes, 5 women and 2 children missing

Orissa: At least seven persons - five women and two children - went missing after the boat in
which they were traveling capsized in a water reservoir in Orissa's Koraput district on Sunday, police said.

The boat carrying 12 persons from Pujariput village under Lamtaput block was on its way to Jolahonjar, about 60 km from here, when it lost balance and capsized in Kolab reservoir, they said.

While five persons, including two women, swam to safety, seven others went missing in the reservoir, police said, adding that two children and five women were among those missing.

Personnel of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) from Koraput and fire brigade from Jeypore, along with local fishermen and volunteers, conducted rescue and search operation in the reservoir to trace those missing, Superintendent of Police (Koraput) Anup Kumar Sahu said.

However, the operation was suspended and would resume on Monday, he said. The mishap took place when the villagers were proceeding to attend a function at a place across the water body, police said.