Puri: Amid reports of frequent drowning cases in the sea here, the district administration has urged the state Home Department to deploy additional 100 lifeguards on the city coast to ensure sea bathers’ safety.
At present, altogether 100 lifeguards are deployed on the beach here to save visitors from drowning in the sea.
Hundreds of tourists from across the globe visit the Holy City for pilgrimage at the Srimandir and spend some quality time on the city beach.
The state government has deployed 100 lifeguards on a 2km patch of the beach to prevent untoward incidents. However, a major portion of the beach is yet to have lifeguards for the safety of sea bathers.
“Many tourists usually prefer less crowded places on the city beach to enjoy sea bathing. However, these places do not have lifeguards. That is why we have urged the state government to take steps for immediate deployment of additional 100 lifeguards on the city beach,” said an official of the district administration.
Sources, meanwhile, claimed that the city beach is likely to get Blue Flag beach tag from Denmark-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
A five-member team from Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority (OCZMA) recently visited the city beach and inspected infrastructure for tourists.
“Adequate safety arrangement for sea bathers is an important criterion for the Blue Flag tag to a beach. So, the district administration has planned to enhance safety measures on the beach here,” said a source familiar with the development.
