Puri: Six tourists from Jharkhand had a narrow escape after they reportedly got washed away while taking bath in Puri sea on Friday. A massive operation has been launched as one tourist is still missing.
As per reports, the seven tourists from Bokaro area of Jharkhand were bathing when the mishap occurred.
A group of local fishermen spotted the tourists and managed to rescue six of them from drowning.
The incidents of drowning of tourists from other States in Puri sea are frequent. On October 27, 2020, a tourist from Jharkhand got swept away in the sea near Digabareni area.
With easing of lockdown restrictions across the country, Odisha is now witnessing a spurt in the arrival of tourists especially to Puri.
Besides, a lot of tourists from other parts of the country are now thronging the pilgrim town to have Darshan on Lord Jagannath at Puri Srimandir.
Odisha government recently had lifted restrictions on the entry of devotees to Puri Jagannath temple by doing away with the mandatory COVID-19 negative certificate.
With the rise in the footfall of tourists, concerns are now being expressed over mechanisms to prevent drowning incidents at Puri sea. It is pertinent to mention here that Blue Flag tag was also accorded to a portion of Puri sea beach.
(Edited By Ramakant Biswas)