Indus Valley Times

By Sudam Patra

Balasore: Ten fishermen had on Thursday a close shave as the boat they were boarding caught fire near Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island at Dhamara in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.

According to sources, the fishermen had gone to deep waters for fishing when the mishap took place. The boat was completely gutted and reduced to ashes in the mishap.

Fishermen from another boat rescued them. On being informed about it, Marine Police and Coast Guards reached the spot and brought them back to the bank

While the exact reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the engine inside the boat led to the explosion.

Recently, a similar sort of incident took place near the testing range of Defence Research and Development Organisation in Balasore’s Chandipur on September 28 which claimed life of a fisherman.

The deceased identified as the owner of the boat Kamalakanta Majhi was killed after getting hit by a stray shrapnel. Another fisherman had sustained injuries in the same mishap.

As per reports, seven fishermen went into the sea near Chandipur to catch fish. However, after some time, the boat strayed into the prohibited area of the DRDO testing range where the defence organization was conducting an ammunition test. Majhi and his associate were hit by shrapnel and were taken to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital where doctors declared Majhi dead.

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Photograph: The ill-fated boat