In a heartbreaking tragedy in Chhattisgarh’s remote Bijapur district, the entire family of four has perished after their boat capsized in the treacherous Indravati River. Rescue teams finally recovered the last body on Saturday, ending a prolonged search operation amid dense forests and Maoist-influenced terrain.
The final victim, 70-year-old Bhado, was found trapped in thick bushes about a kilometer downstream from the accident site. Just a day earlier, 25-year-old Sunita Kawasi’s body was retrieved 500 meters away. Prior to that, 45-year-old Podia and her two-year-old son Rakesh were discovered bound together with a towel, a desperate attempt by the mother to save her child in the swirling waters.
The deceased include mother Podia, her son Rakesh, daughter-in-law Sunita Kawasi, and Rakesh’s grandfather Bhado. The haunting image of Podia and Rakesh tied with a towel speaks volumes about the family’s final, futile struggle against the river’s fury.
Tragically, the family patriarch Sannu remains unaware of the devastating loss. He had left for daily wage work in Andhra Pradesh a few weeks ago, and poor network coverage in this Naxal-affected region has made it impossible to contact him, leaving villagers in a dilemma on how to break the news.
The incident occurred as the group returned from the weekly market at Uspari. In this Maoist-dominated area near the dense Abujhmad forests, there are no bridges, paved roads, or alternative routes across the river. Locals rely entirely on wooden boats, which proved fatal this time.
Carrying around a dozen passengers, the boat suddenly lurched in the river’s strong currents and overturned, hurling four members into the depths. Elders in the area recount how the Indravati has claimed numerous lives over the years, especially in the post-monsoon season when it turns wild and unforgiving.
Despite improvements in security due to anti-Naxal operations and the establishment of camps along former danger zones, the persistent lack of infrastructure continues to endanger lives in these isolated tribal regions. Authorities must prioritize building bridges and roads to prevent such avoidable disasters.