SONUTIKRA (SAMBALPUR): A year after a boat tragedy claimed 31 lives in Hirakud Dam Reservoir (HDR), life has come to a halt at Sonutikra Ghat. Except a few fishing boats, there is no sign of mechanised boats ferrying people from the Ghat.
Tragedy struck the families on February 9 last year after the mechanised boat, that was ferrying picnickers from Marangdungri Ghat across HDR in Jharsuguda district to Sonutikra Ghat in Dhankauda block in Sambalpur district, capsized in the middle of the reservoir. Since then, services of passenger boats between the two Ghats have been stopped leaving the people on both sides of the reservoir in the lurch.
Thousands of villagers in Jharsuguda district used to depend on the mechanised boats to ferry across the reservoir to come to Sambalpur for treatment at VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla. Similarly, peasants from Lakhanpur block used to visit Sambalpur for business.
To worsen their woes, the administration also suspended boat services from Taldihi Ghat in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district to Larbanga Ghat in Sambalpur after the boat tragedy. Taldihi ghat is about one km from Marangdungri Ghat.
However, things looked up in May last year after then Jharsuguda Collector Guha Punam Tapas Kumar allowed one boat to ferry people from Taldihi to Larbanga after surveying the safety measures. The boat was allowed to carry a maximum capacity of 3.5 tonne. Another boat also started the service from Taldihi Ghat on January 10 this year.
But, the much in demand Sonutikra Ghat remains closed. Owner of the ill-fated boat, Satyanand Pandey, has been running from pillar to post to get approval for running the boats.
Pandey said his two boats are ready with all safety measures to carry people. “After the accident, I have procured safety equipment like life jackets, tubes, fire extinguishers, lifeline rope and first aid box but, the district administration is yet to give its approval to restore the services,” he said.
BDO of Dhankauda Ashok Kumar Gartia said boat services from Sonutikra will resume only after getting clearance from District Emergency Office.