Puri: In the wake of a drowning incident in the Chilika Lake, the Puri administration has introduced heightened safety protocols for ferry and boat services, making wearing of life jackets by passengers mandatory.
The move comes in response to growing concerns over passenger safety amid poor visibility due to dense fog and overcrowding on ferries.
Besides life jackets, passengers on ferries are advised to remain seated at the centre of the vessel during transit and are prohibited from standing near the edges. Those travelling with four-wheelers or buses must stay inside their vehicles with seatbelts fastened, instead of stepping out onto the deck.
Officials confirmed that these rules will be implemented across all ferry ghats in the district. The administration had earlier suspended boat services in the lake till 11 am due to fog.
On January 1, 60-year-old Uma Shankar Sabat from Malkangiri district fell overboard from a floating bridge vessel while traveling from Satapada to Jahnikuda. The ferry, carrying approximately 50 passengers along with a bus and two cars, was stranded mid-lake due to near-zero visibility caused by heavy fog, leading to the fatal accident.
Reports indicated that Sabat was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to intensifying safety measures and monitoring ferry operations to prevent such accidents in the future.
