Boat Carrying 20 Passengers Stranded In Chilika

Chilika: As many as 20 passengers were trapped in the middle of the Chilika lake after a boat ferrying them got stranded midway on Saturday.

According to reports, low visibility due to heavy fog forced to halt the boat’s movement.

The boat had set off from the Gada jetty under Krushnaprasad block in Puri district with 20 devotees who were going to Goddess Kalijai shrine to have darshan on the occasion of Makar Sankranti today.

They had to wait it out till the fog cleared to make their way to a safe location.

As the day progressed, the fog subsided to some extent and some boats sailed out into the lake for Kalijai. But, after sailing for some time, the fog thickened and the boatman lost sight of the Kalijai hill and its direction.

Meanwhile, the local administration has temporarily suspended the boat service in Chilika lake till the fog situation subsides.