Overview
- Police and witnesses say the boat carrying 22 people overturned near Bharathapur on October 29 after striking a fallen tree in the fast-flowing Kaudiyala river.
- Thirteen passengers were rescued and the body of a 60-year-old woman, Ramjai, was recovered, while eight people remain unaccounted for, including five children and boatman Mihilal Yadav.
- NDRF, SDRF, SSB, PAC, local divers and district teams are sweeping a 5–7 km stretch using motorboats, steamers and sonar as strong currents and rain complicate the operation.
- Senior officials are stationed at the site on the Chief Minister’s directions, with district and forest authorities coordinating round-the-clock searches.
- The inaccessible village lies inside Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary with no road link, and the incident has refocused attention on a sanctioned ₹21.56 crore relocation plan for 118 families, with ₹4 lakh ex gratia paid to the deceased’s family.