Puri, Jan 31: A mother and her son drowned after being caught in a rip current while bathing in the sea at Puri on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Kusum Gupta and her son Ankit Gupta, residents of Ranchi, Jharkhand.

The incident occurred near the Pink House area on Chakratirtha Road, where the family had gone for a sea bath. According to sources, a strong wave accompanied by a rip current swept Kusum into deeper waters. When her son Ankit attempted to rescue her, he too was dragged into the sea by the current.

Following frantic cries from family members, private lifeguards and local fishermen present at the spot rushed into the water and managed to pull both victims out. They were immediately shifted to a hospital in Puri, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

The tragic incident led to a sombre atmosphere at the hospital. Locals alleged that lack of lifeguard deployment along the Chakratirtha beach stretch has resulted in repeated such accidents and demanded immediate intervention by the district administration to improve safety arrangements.