Crocs delay retrieval of bodies

BY RABINDRA NATH CHOUDHURY

Bhubaneswar

July 5: The process of retrieving the bodies of the jawans killed in Sunday’s boat tragedy at the Balimela reservoir in south Orissa has been hampered by the presence of crocodiles which have been hovering around the sunken vessel.

The rescue team which suspected the presence of crocodiles in the reservoir after finding a headless body on Friday are by now certain of the presence of these carnivores.

Besides, some dismembered limbs of dead bodies were also recovered. DIG, southern range, Sanjeev Panda said, "At least two crocodiles were spotted in the reservoir on Saturday. They were being drawn to the boat by the presence of dead bodies."

"This has made the job of recovering the bodies difficult, as the naval divers fear attack by these animals," he added.

At least 66 jawans of the Andhra Pradesh and Orissa police went missing on Sunday after their motorboat capsized in the reservoir, following gun fires from Maoist ultras from a hill top near Alampakka village under Chitrokonda police station. While 28 swam to safety, a massive search operation was launched to trace others. Twenty-two bodies have been recovered so far.