Pilgrims Stranded as Vessel Gets Stuck in Chilika Lake Amid Thunderstorm

Bhubaneswar: Tension prevailed among dozens of pilgrims after a floating bridge vessel carrying them got stranded in the middle of Chilika Lake for over an hour on Wednesday evening following a sudden thunderstorm.

The vessel, which was ferrying around 70 pilgrims along with five motorcycles and a bus from Jhanhikuda to Satapada, reportedly veered off its designated navigation channel near the Mahinsa Kuda area due to strong winds and rough weather conditions.

As a result, the large floating platform transporting the bus and other vehicles got stuck in shallow waters, leaving passengers stranded mid-lake. Authorities were alerted soon after, prompting the launch of a rescue operation.

In an attempt to pull the vessel back into deeper waters, a JCB machine was sent to the spot using another bus. However, the rescue effort faced a setback when the bus carrying the equipment developed a mechanical fault and also got stranded, further delaying the operation.

Eyewitnesses said the pilgrims, many returning from visits to nearby holy sites, were left anxious as the vessel remained immobile for nearly an hour. Local fishermen, along with personnel from the Chilika Development Authority, joined the rescue efforts.

Officials from the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and the Chilika Wildlife Division reached the site to oversee the situation. Efforts are ongoing to safely evacuate the stranded passengers and vehicles using alternative boats and towing arrangements.

Notably, similar incidents involving floating bridge vessels have been reported earlier on the Jhanhikuda-Satapada route.