Puri: A lifeguard at Puri Beach was injured on Tuesday when a tourist and his wife allegedly attacked him with slippers for preventing them from bathing in the sea. The restriction was in place as a precaution against rough seas caused by Cyclone ‘Montha’.
The state government had earlier imposed a ban on sea bathing during the cyclone period, citing the safety of tourists. While the move has been widely welcomed, the assault on the lifeguard has drawn sharp criticism from authorities and the public alike.
Lifeguards and fire service personnel remain on high alert at 14 vulnerable zones along Puri Beach. Cyclone ‘Montha’, moving north-northwest at 15 km/h, is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on the evening or night of October 28. Eight districts in Odisha are likely to be affected.
Authorities have urged tourists to strictly follow safety guidelines and avoid venturing into the sea during the cyclone period.
