Kendrapara: Six tourists had a life-threatening terror on Tuesday afternoon when they were stranded two nautical miles from Pensa Beach after their boat ran out of gas. The tourists were reportedly stuck at sea for almost four hours before another boat was sent to rescue them.
Gori Shankar Sthar, one of the Dandisahi tourists, said the boat plunged into the sea at 2pm. At sea, the boat ran out of fuel. “About four hours later another boat arrived and towed us to shore. By the time we landed, it was already 6pm,” he added.
Authorities are reportedly charging 1,200 rupees from tourists to board boats on the sea. According to sources, the tourism office said he will hold an eco-retreat festival from November 15 to March 1, attracting tourists to Penta Beach and nearby mangrove forests. The authorities have set up 25 luxury tents and organize water sports in the sea for tourists.
District tourism officer Himalaya Tripathy said the incident was caused by the boatman. “We have instructed the festival organizers to hold water sports considering the safety and security of tourists,” he added.
