Odisha: Boat capsizes, NDRF saves 10 with just a torch

BHUBANESWAR: In a daring night-time rescue operation using just one torchlight, a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) saved the lives of 10 fishermen after their boat capsized in a river in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha on Tuesday as Cyclone Yaas moved towards the state’s coast to make landfall.
Inspector general of police (operations) Amitabh Thakur, who was deputed in the district, said it was very difficult to conduct the rescue operation at night. “One of the fishermen had called up Erasama block development officer (BDO) Kailash Behera, who informed us about the boat capsize. An NDRF team with their inflatable boat rushed to their rescue. The BDO’s torchlight was the only ray of hope during the operation,” Thakur said.

Sources said defying the administration’s warning, the 10 fishermen had gone into the sea for fishing on Tuesday morning and were returning through the Jatadhari rivermouth near the sea when their boat overturned.
“Appreciate the quick response from the team of @NDRFHQ and Erasama BDO to rescue 10 people from a capsized boat in the river, during a courageous night time rescue operation. Such bravery is indeed praiseworthy,” chief minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted on Wednesday.

On the eve of the cyclone’s landfall, the NDRF, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the fire services and state police personnel evacuated thousands of people, including senior citizens and children from high-impact regions to safety on Tuesday.
After the cyclone made landfall on Wednesday, the rescue teams fanned across Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts to remove the uprooted trees. A large number of trees were uprooted in Nilagiri area of Balasore district. The uprooted trees and broken branches were being cleared to ensure restoration on war footing. “We have not witnessed extensive damage to electrical infrastructure. So far, there have been stray instances of uprooting of electricity poles,” special relief commissioner PK Jena said.
NDRF’s director general Satya Narayan Pradhan said additional teams may be sent to Mayurbhanj district if flash flood situation arises in Budhabalang River. Mayurbhanj has been witnessing extremely heavy rainfall, triggering apprehension of flash flood in Budhabalang. “Around 10 NDRF teams with boats were deployed there. More teams would be sent if required,” he added.
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