Bhograi: Bodies of two persons were recovered from the sea along the Bhograi coast of Baleshwar district and another remained missing Tuesday as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has led to heavy rain and rough seas.
Authorities have barred tourists and fishermen from venturing into the sea until September 25 in view of the squally weather. The first incident occurred at Udaypur beach Monday afternoon when two tourists from West Bengal were swept away by strong currents while bathing in the sea. One of them, 21-year-old Shubhajit Mal of Garbalia village under Jagatballavpur police station in Howrah district, was found dead Tuesday morning.
Shubajit was visiting Digha with about 10 friends and later went to Udaypur beach for a swim. The other tourist, 55-year-old Sanatan Majhi of Pantirahal village in West Bengal, remained missing. In another incident, two men from Birampur village under Ramnagar police station in West Bengal were swept away while catching crabs near the cremation ground connecting the Bichitrapur-Khadibil coast to the sea.
While one of them managed to swim to safety, the other, identified as 41-year-old Subal Sethi, went missing. Sethi’s body was recovered from the seashore Tuesday and handed over to Digha police. Meanwhile, intermittent heavy rain intensified across Bhograi and adjoining coastal areas from Tuesday morning as the deep depression moved west-northwestwards.
The adverse weather conditions and rough seas disrupted normal life in Bhograi and nearby areas. With the sea remaining turbulent, the Fisheries department and local administration have warned fishermen and tourists through public announcements against venturing into the sea until September 25.
Fishermen who had already ventured into the deep sea have returned to the coast. A Warning Signal No. 3 has been hoisted at Haldia and Dhamra ports in view of adverse weather conditions owing to the deep depression.
