Boat services resumes after 4 days in Chilika

Odisha: The Puri Collector has withdrawn the ban on the operation of boats in the Chilika lake in the Satpada area. The local administration will resume operation of boats and floating bridge vessels.

All the boats and floating bridge vessels have been directed to follow the rules and regulations strictly and carry life jackets and life-saving equipment on board. The Puri Collector has warned that their license will be cancelled if the rules and regulations are violated.

The district administration put restriction on the operation of boats in the Chilika lake till 11 am following a mishap in which one passenger of a floating bridge vessel was killed after he fell from it in the Satapada area of Puri district on the first day of new year. The floating bridge vessel got stuck in mid way on a sand dune after it lost direction due to dense fog.

Following the incident, the authorities put the restriction, citing sharply reduced visibility as the reason for the restriction, stressing the need to protect lives.