April 26th 2024.
In the town of Kendrapara, a tragic incident occurred in the Mahanadi river. A boat carrying about 50 passengers capsized, resulting in the loss of eight lives. This caught the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), who has taken swift action by issuing notices to the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on the matter.
The NHRC has also requested Action Taken Reports from the Superintendent of Police of Jharsuguda in Odisha and Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. The Commission had been made aware of the incident through a petition filed by human rights activist, Radhakanta Tripathy. Tripathy has raised concerns about the tragic event and has asked the Commission to investigate the matter thoroughly.
According to Tripathy, the boat was overcrowded and did not have a valid license or fitness certificate issued by the authorities. The passengers on the boat were residents of Kharsani in Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, who were on their way to Patharseni in Bargarh district, Odisha. Unfortunately, the boat encountered turbulent waters and capsized near Saradha Ghat in Jharsuguda district.
In his petition, Tripathy has requested the NHRC to ensure a fair and unbiased investigation into the incident. He has also urged the Commission to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable, including the officials who failed to fulfill their duty. Additionally, Tripathy has asked the NHRC to direct the governments of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to submit reports on the incident with recommendations on the implementation of laws, rules, and norms, as well as the payment of adequate compensation to the families of the deceased.
This is not the first time that Tripathy has brought such a matter to the attention of the NHRC. In a previous petition, he had raised concerns about a series of boat tragedies in Odisha. The Commission had responded by asking the Chief Secretary of Odisha to take necessary steps to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
In response to the recent tragedy, the NHRC has ordered copies of the complaint to be sent to the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, as well as the Superintendents of Police in Jharsuguda and Raigarh. They have been given six weeks to take appropriate action and submit detailed reports to the Commission. The NHRC has taken this incident seriously and is determined to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
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