Krushnaprasad: Around 70 passengers including some police officials had a harrowing experience Tuesday evening after a ferryboat in which they were travelling was stuck in the middle of the Chilika Lake for an hour following a technical snag. Reports said the boat was en route to Satapada from Janhikuda of Krushnaprasad block. The glitch occurred due to excess loading, reports said. The police officials were on their way to Puri for Rath Yatra duty. Moreover, more than 20 motorbikes were being ferried on the boat way beyond its capacity.
Soon after, a private boat arrived at the spot and rescued the passengers. While hundreds of passengers are now heading to Puri ahead of the Rath Yatra, the boatman was carrying excess load for money, the rescued people stated.
PNN