Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has sought replies from the state government, director general of fire service, Puri collector and superintendent of police while hearing a petition in connection with drowning of tourists in the sea in Puri.
Acting on a petition filed by advocate Shivsankar Mohanty, a bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Ramkrushna Mohapatra has directed the officials to submit their responses during the next hearing July 3.
The bench, however, did not pronounce any order regarding the safety measures to be introduced for tourists during this year’s Rath Yatra.
Mohanty in his petition had alleged that although 37 tourists have drowned in the sea in Puri in last three years, the administration has failed to introduce adequate safety measures in this regard.
Mohanty informed the HC that senior government officials had asked Puri collector to take all possible steps for safety of tourists during this year’s Rath Yatra. However, no step has been taken in this regard.
The petitioner claimed that he had written to the tourism secretary and district collector May 14 this year to introduce measures for checking drowning cases during the Car Festival, but to no avail.
The petitioner urged the HC to direct the state government to deploy adequate number of trained lifeguards on Puri beach and provide them walkie-talkies, life jackets, rescue boards, high-speed boats, ambulances and patrolling jeeps having fast aid facilities.
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