Safety fears have escalated at Chilika after one of the two floating bridges was damaged, rendering the route partially unusable during the Chandrabhaga Snana festival. Commuters were forced to cross the stretch via overcrowded boats carrying passengers, two-wheelers, and auto-rickshaws, often without life jackets or proper safety measures.
The disrupted route, a key transit point between Ganjam and Puri, led to long queues, confusion, and distress among travellers. The incident has highlighted serious gaps in crowd management, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency preparedness, especially during large religious gatherings. Calls for immediate action by authorities to restore the bridge, regulate boat operations, and ensure passenger safety have intensified.
