Baliguda: Two persons, including a father-in-law and his daughter-in-law, went missing after a country boat carrying eight people capsized in the swollen Khadga River near Daka village in Kandhamal district on Wednesday, officials said.
The incident occurred in a remote area under Salaguda Panchayat within Baliguda police station limits when the group was returning by boat after visiting relatives across the river.
According to reports, Raingi Mallik had come to her parental village at Daka to attend a 10th-day death ritual, locally known as shuddhikriya. She later crossed the river along with seven others to visit her maternal uncle’s house and was returning when the tragedy struck.
The country boat reportedly lost its balance in the strong current and capsized, throwing all eight occupants into the river. Six of them were rescued, while Guna Mallik and his daughter-in-law Raingi Mallik were swept away and remain untraced.
On receiving information about the incident, a Baliguda Fire Service team rushed to the spot and launched a search and rescue operation. However, the missing duo could not be located till the latest reports came in.
Rescue efforts were continuing amid difficult conditions as the water level in the Khadga River has risen and the current remains strong, sources.
