Three passenger boats get stuck in Chilika; over 150 passengers stranded

Over 150 passengers were stranded in Chilika Lake near Krushnaprasad in Puri on Wednesday after three boats got stuck in shallow waters.

As per reports, the boats were ferrying passengers from Janhikuda to Satapada when they got stuck in the lakebed in a shallow water area. Initially, one boat with 50 passengers on board got stuck just 500 meters away from Janhikuda jetty.

Receiving the distress call, two other passenger boats with around 50 passengers each tried to reach out to help. But both of them got stuck too.

Later in the day, the passengers were safely rescued while the boats returned to the jetty following rise in water level in the lake.

It is pertinent to mention here that boats are the only means of communication for the residents of around 90 villages of Krushnaprasad block and boats in Chilika being stuck in shallow waters is a regular occurrence.

Earlier on February 12, around 100 people, two buses, and other vehicles were stranded after a floating bridge vessel developed a technical snag during its journey to Janhikuda from Satapada.

On January 14, a passenger boat en route to Maa Kalijai shrine with 20 devotees on board got stuck midway in Chilika Lake due to dense fog. This then prompted the local administration to temporarily suspend boat services in Chilika Lake till the fog situation subsided.

(Reported By Nilakantha Pradhan, OTV)