Kendrapara (Orissa), August 20: An all-women team has successfully concluded a 296-km rafting mission on the river Mahanadi, Orissa’s longest river.
The first ever river rafting mission in the state by women, it saw Rosalini Pattnaik (28), Rosalini Behera (18), Rajashree Mohapatra and Sonaphoola Sabar (18) rafting to their destination at Barunei near Paradip, Rabindra Kumar Bhuyan, Director, National Adventure Foundation (Orissa chapter) said.
The expedition which started from Sambalpur on August 12 and ended on Tuesday was not entirely accident free as the raft was caught in strong currents leading to its capsize at Ghanteswar.
But as the crew were expert swimmers, all swam to safety. An hour later the voyage recommenced, Bhuyan said.
Senior officials of Paradip Port Trust alongwith hundreds of local residents of the port town accorded the team a rousing reception on their return.
–PTI