23 feared killed in 2 boat mishaps in Orissa

At least 23 persons are believed to have been killed in two separate boat accidents in Orissa in the last two days, officials said on Wednesday.

A countrymade boat carrying 28 people capsized in a reservoir at Village Indrabati in Koraput district on Tuesday evening. Thirteen passengers swam back home, Block Development Officer Subhash Chandra Das told rediff.com, but 15 others are missing. The district administration has launched a search and rescue operation.

Another boat with eight people on board capsized at a reservoir at Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district on Monday evening. The boatman escaped and informed the villagers of the incident, who in turn told the local police on Tuesday.

Although the police launched search operations, no bodies were found, Superintendent of Police Debadatta Singh said.