Bhubaneswar: A boatman who had yesterday fallen into Chilika lake while carrying tourists in a boat was found dead in the water body, today.
The deceased has been identified as Bikram Jali (55). He was a resident of Balabhadra village near Satapada.
Locals spotted the body floating in the lake, this morning. On being informed by them, Fire Services personnel reached the spot and fished out the body.
The mishap took place when several tourists from West Bengal were travelling in the boat for dolphin sighting in the afternoon.
“Jali had turned off the motor of the boat near an island inside the brackish water lake to facilitate dolphin sighting for the tourists. He fell off the boat and went missing in the lake while trying to restart the motor for their return journey,” said a source.
After receiving an emergency call from the stranded tourists, the police along with Fire Brigade personnel and local boat operators launched a rescue operation.
The team rescued the stranded tourists and brought them to the shore.
Sources claimed that the boatman was drunk while carrying the tourists on the trip.
