A tragic incident unfolded at the Balimela reservoir in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district when a country boat carrying five fishermen capsized on Friday.
The mishap occurred while the group was returning after fishing using a traditional boat.
According to local sources, the boat lost balance during net casting and overturned, throwing all five occupants into the water. While four of them managed to swim ashore, one fisherman, identified as Ramachandra Pangi (27) from Talapadar village under Nakamamudi Panchayat, went missing.
Upon receiving the alert, fire service personnel from Chitrakonda and Korakunda rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. After extensive efforts, the body of the deceased was recovered on Saturday morning.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the local fishing community, raising concerns about safety measures in traditional fishing practices. Authorities are expected to review protocols to prevent such mishaps in the future.
