Malkangiri, 3rd Nov 2025: The Balimela reservoir, which surrounds several villages in the Swabhiman region, serves as the only mode of transport for the residents — through waterways. As a result, every year, many lives are lost in boat capsize accidents. To prevent such tragedies, Lalita Khil, a Class IX student, has developed an innovative scientific project called “Titanic 2.0 – Safety Boat”, which aims to prevent boat accidents. Impressed by her idea, the evaluators have selected her project for the national-level competition, to be held on November 18 in Bhopal.
Lalita, a student of RSC-6 Government UGHS School, Chitrakonda Block, Malkangiri district, hails from the remote village Burudiput under Doraguda Panchayat, located along the Balimela reservoir. Since no bridge has been built near the Doraguda ghat, villagers cross the reservoir by holding onto a rope tied across the water and traveling by small country boats. Due to frequent accidents and loss of lives, Lalita came up with the Safety Boat project, which will now be showcased at the national-level science fair in Bhopal on November 18.
Her project, already recognized at the district and zonal levels, has drawn widespread attention from the Swabhiman area. Lalita received guidance from teacher Debabrata Dash and headmaster Dambarudhar Golari during the project’s development.
Lalita explained that in ordinary boats, the bottom part is hollow, and during accidents, when passengers rush to one side, the boat loses balance and capsizes. In her Safety Boat design, the hollow space is replaced with air-filled bags, and a balance tube has been installed based on Pascal’s Law. Since pressure decreases with increased surface area, the boat’s base area has been expanded. Thus, when people move to one side, the pressure is evenly distributed across the boat, preventing it from overturning.
Moreover, the Safety Boat includes a warning siren system — if the number of passengers exceeds capacity, the siren automatically alerts them. If people still overcrowd the boat, it will sink slightly, causing the air from the air-filled bags below to rise into the upper tubes, providing buoyancy and preventing the boat from completely sinking.
Lalita named her project “Titanic 2.0” as a symbol of a safer evolution in boat technology. After her project was selected for the national level, her father Parshu Khil, mother Damayanti Khil, along with villagers and school authorities, expressed immense pride and happiness over her achievement.
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