Dense fog strands ferry in Chilika, passenger reported missing

Dense fog over Odisha’s Chilika Lake caused major disruption on Thursday, leaving a passenger ferry stranded in the middle of the lake for several hours and triggering a search operation after a passenger was reported missing.

The incident occurred while the ferry was travelling from Satapada to Jahnikuda, carrying around 50 passengers along with a passenger bus and two cars. According to reports, the ferry got stranded mid-lake as dense fog sharply reduced visibility, making navigation impossible. The vessel reportedly departed later than scheduled due to prevailing weather conditions.

Passengers onboard were left stranded for several hours amid low visibility. Anxiety grew after it emerged that a passenger had gone missing during the journey.

Passenger Goes Missing

The missing person has been identified as Uma Shankar Sabat, a resident of Berhampur. He had reportedly visited Chilika to celebrate the New Year and was returning on Thursday.

Family members said Uma Shankar had boarded the ferry and travelled nearly 100 metres on board before he went missing. When questioned about the possibility of him being left behind, the family produced photographs showing him onboard the ferry, including pictures taken with his nephew.

Search Efforts Underway

Concerns intensified after fishermen recovered Uma Shankar’s cap and slippers from a nearby area. Some passengers later told authorities that they heard a sound resembling a heavy object falling into the water, but did not realise its significance at the time.

It is suspected that if Uma Shankar fell near the rear of the ferry, he may have been injured and swept away by water movement near the propellers. However, his family said he knew how to swim, raising the possibility that he may have reached land elsewhere.

Search operations were underway at the time of reporting, though dense fog continued to hamper rescue efforts. Officials had not yet reached the spot, and the ferry remained stranded in the middle of the lake.

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A Fire Services team from Brahmagiri had been dispatched to the site, while further rescue operations were being coordinated.