Seven migrant workers missing as boats capsize in Odisha

They were trying to cross the border at night, fearing lockdown

Seven migrant workers, including two women and five children, were missing after two boats capsized in Sileru River in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on May 24. The incident took place when over 30 members of migrant families were trying to sneak across the Odisha border at night, fearing lockdown clampdown. Three persons managed to swim ashore, while the body of a child was fished out. “More than 30 persons, including several children, from Gunthabeda gram panchayat had travelled by bus to the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on Monday evening. Fearing that they could undergo COVID-19 test at border and questioning by patrolling team, they tried to return to their village Kandhaguda, taking advantage of the darkness,” said K. Padmanava Dora, Tahsildar of Chitrakonda.