Puri: A minor tourist from Chhattisgarh died after being caught in a rip current while bathing at Puri’s Blue Flag Beach on Monday, marking yet another tragic incident along the popular coastal destination.
The deceased has been identified as Piyush Kumar of Chhattisgarh. According to officials, the boy was bathing in the sea during the afternoon when a strong wave swept him away. He was subsequently caught in a rip current and dragged farther into the sea.
On hearing the cries for help from his family members, the lifeguard on duty immediately rushed into the water and rescued the child. Fire Services personnel also assisted in the rescue operation. The victim was taken to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Police said the body would be handed over to the family after completion of the postmortem examination.
The incident has left the family devastated and once again raised concerns over safety measures and the dangers posed by rip currents along the Puri coastline, particularly during rough sea conditions.
