Puri: A lifeguard was injured after being allegedly assaulted by tourists at Odisha’s Puri beach on Tuesday when he advised them against taking bath in the sea in view of cyclone Montha.
As per sources, the incident took place at Sector 4 of Puri beach when a tourist and his wife allegedly attacked the lifeguard with slippers for stopping them from entering the sea.
Notably, the authorities have imposed restriction as a precaution against rough sea conditions caused by cyclone Montha.
The state government had earlier imposed a ban on sea bath during the cyclone period, citing the safety of tourists. While the move has been widely welcomed, the assault on the lifeguard has drawn sharp criticism from authorities and the public alike.
Sources said lifeguards and fire service personnel remain on high alert at 14 vulnerable zones along Puri Beach.
Cyclone Montha is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on the night of October 28. Eight districts in Odisha are likely to be affected.
