Boat carrying more than 30 passengers stranded in Chilika; rescue operation underway

A motorboat carrying more than 30 passengers got stuck in Chilika lake on Sunday. The boat got stuck amid the lake after its engine developed some technical snag. 

As per reports, the boat was ferrying passengers from Janhikuda to Satapada when its engine developed some snag. Apart from the passengers, there are as many as eight two-wheelers on board. 

Efforts are reportedly on for the rescue passengers and vehicles.

Notably, residents of as many as 92 villages near the lake have to face a lot of hardships and struggles in their daily communication to earn their livelihood. To reach the mainland, the villagers have to cross five km through Chilka lake which has always remained a risky affair. 

During storms and other mechanical problems, the boats often get stuck inside the lake. 

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently announced to build two big bridges over Chilika Lake without hampering the marine habitat. The two bridges will be like signature bridges under Bharatmala project.