Boats sans life jackets put lives at risk

BARIPADA: Despite ban imposed on commuter boats after a recent mishap that claimed six lives in Chilika lake, rickety country boats sans life jackets continue to ferry locals and tourists on Subarnarekha river to destinations such as Bhusandeswar Shiva temple and sea beach at Digha and Kirtania and Raibania fort in Balasore district.The residents of Bhograi, Baliapal and Jaleswar blocks in the northern part of the district risk their lives daily to cross the water bodies.

Pravakar Sahu of Bishnupur panchayat of Baliapal block said at least 11 ghats over river Subarnarekha and the sea near Kirtania are major short cut routes for the locals. The locals and tourists board these boats at Pantai ghat, Kirtania ghat, Parida ghat, Dahamunda ghat in Bhograi block, Palia ghat of Baliapal block and Pashchimbad ghat, Jamalpur ghat, Churmora ghat, Sikharpur ghat, Bilashpur ghat in Jaleswar block to cross the river.

Sources said such boats are not designed to carry passengers. The situation gets worse during monsoon when mishaps become a regular affair. Surendra Nayak, a resident of Pala Jamkunda village of Baliapal block, said people like him are forced to cross the river on such unsafe boats in the absence of alternative mode of transport.The boats not only carry passengers but also motorcycles and other heavy goods. The problem is not just limited to lack of safety equipment. 

Even the operators of such vessels throw caution to wind as is evident from a recent video, which went viral on social media showing some women commuters thrashing a boat operator in Pantai ghat as he was unable to ferry the passengers under the influence of alcohol.When contacted, Balasore Collector Ramesh Chandra Rout said Sub-Collector Nilu Mohapatra had visited the sites recently to assess the situation. He said the district administration will look into the matter.