Boating has come to a halt in Patratu Dam. This is the outcome of a clash between two groups of boat operators in Patratu dam, 35 km from Ranchi, in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand on Sunday. 

At least 20 members of boat operators and their family members were injured in their fight for supremacy, said the police.

As it is, boating is a thriving business in Patratu Dam, a mega major tourist site. On the sidelines of the G20 summit, delegates from member countries had gone for an excursion to Patratu and enjoyed boating in its dam on March 3.

Ever since then the number of tourists has scaled up. Most tourists prefer to boat around on the Patratu Dam water. This has brightened the business of boatmen. To gain supremacy in the area, it is learnt, two groups of boat operators fought with each other resulting in injury to 20 persons.

“The conflict of interest to run more trips on boats had surfaced. They took out sticks and fought against each other”, said a police officer posted in Patratu.

The injured were brought to the state government-run RIMS hospital where they were undergoing treatment. Seven of them were released, said the police.

To maintain law and order, the Ramgarh district administration has banned boating for the time being, said Sub Divisional Officer Javed Hussain.