Brahmagiri: Tension ran high at Bramhagiri area in Puri district after locals of Mahinsa village halted a boat carrying passengers in the middle of Chilika Lake Monday.
More than 100 passengers on a ferryboat were left stranded in Chilika lake following dispute among boatmen over ghat services. The boat carrying two buses, 20 bikes and more than 100 passengers travelling from Satapada was halted midway by villagers from Mahinsa.
After more than an hour of being stranded in mid of the lake, the ferryboat returned to Satapada.
As per reports, Janhikuda and Mahinsa villages entered a dispute over auction of boat services in the area.
Villagers of Mahinsa who won the auction for boat services, have decided not to allow boatmen of Janhikuda to operate in the area, said sources.
The tiff between the two villages has affected residents of Krushnaprasad block who extensively depend on ferryboat services.
As per plan, a group of 15-20 locals of Mahinsa village detained the boat while it was about to reach Janhikuda at 7:45 am. Two buses and a car also remained stranded on a bridge on the floating bridge over Chilika Lake after being halted by the protestors, who demanded an early solution to their issues.
Meanwhile, the district administration is yet to step in and resolve the issues between both the villages.
On being informed about the incident, Krushnaprasad tehsildar Binod Kumar Swain reached the spot and held discussion with the agitators.
After a couple of hours, the boat carrying the passengers returned back to Satapada without reaching its destination.