Puri, Jan 1: A floating bridge vessel carrying at least 50 people, including 30 bikes, 4 cars, and one bus, became stranded in the middle of Chilika Lake near Mahinsa in Satapada on Thursday. The incident, which occurred due to dense fog, has raised significant concerns about the safety of passengers traveling across the lake.

The vessel reportedly lost its way and got stuck on a sand dune during its journey to Satapada, making it difficult to navigate through the thick fog. One person has gone missing amidst the chaos, and efforts are currently underway to rescue the stranded passengers. Local authorities have deployed rescue teams to ensure the safe retrieval of passengers and assist in the ongoing operation.

This is not the first such incident in Chilika Lake. On January 14, a passenger boat en route to the Maa Kalijai shrine with 20 devotees on board also got stuck due to dense fog, prompting the local administration to temporarily suspend boat services on the lake until the weather conditions improved.

The recurring issue of vessels getting stranded in the middle of Chilika Lake has raised alarm among local residents and authorities. The safety of passengers traveling across the lake during the foggy season has become a grave concern. The local administration is being urged to take stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future, including enhancing navigational aids and improving safety protocols for vessels operating in the area.