Cuttack: In wake of loss of lives due to recent drowning incidents in Mahanadi river in the city, the Cuttack district administration today decided to set up four big hoardings at the Gadagadia ghat cautioning people not to enter the water as well as deploy local volunteers to aware them on quick sand in the river.
Talking to media persons after a meeting with civil society groups here this afternoon, district collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said, “Recent drowning incidents are a matter of grave concern for the district administration. To prevent such mishaps, four big hoardings will be placed at the Gadagadia ghat to caution people. Besides, a rope barricade will be set up from four feet from the river bank. Two volunteers with life jacket, tube, rope and megaphones will be stationed.”
The Cuttack Collector added signages will be kept at Chahata, Jobra, Debigada ghats.
“The decision will be implemented in next seven days,” Mishra said.
Apart from this, the the district administration will propose the Fire Services department to set up a unit at the Gadagadia ghat.
He further stated, “We will request the Cuttack DCP to deploy home guards at the ghats if possible.”
Also Read: Bodies of 3 NIFT students recovered from Mahanadi
Mishra said, “Educational institutions in Khurda, Cuttack districts and Bhubaneswar will be urged to create awareness among the students about the danger of entering the rivers as people get drowned due to quick sand in Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers.”
Notably, two youths had drowned yesterday in Mahanadi river near Gadagadia Ghat during an idol immersion.
Prior to this incident, three students of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) had drowned while taking bath at Gadagadia Ghat on August 30.