Boat mishap kills three in Orissa

At least three people drowned after a boat carrying them capsized in a large pond in Orissa, police said.

At least three people drowned after a boat carrying them capsized in a large pond in Orissa, police said on Friday.

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The mishap occurred in a pond known locally as a jore (where people collect rainwater) near Sankarma village in Sambalpur district, some 380 km from Bhubaneswar.

According to Pradeep Sahu, inspector in charge of the local Aaithapali police station, at least 15 people were trying to cross the water body in a small boat when the boat was swept away by a sudden flash flood triggered by heavy rain.

12 people were able to swim ashore. The bodies of the three victims aged between 26 to 35 were recovered on Friday, Sahu told IANS.