Berhampur: Around 20 passengers were stranded in the Chilika lake for over two hours on Saturday when a motorboat in which they were travelling developed a technical snag.
The vessel, which was also carrying around 10 motorcycles, was going from Janhikuda near Rambha in Ganjam to Satapada in Puri district when it malfunctioned. It had sailed for about 2 km, sources said.
Panic gripped the passengers as the vessel got stranded in the middle of the lake.
The boat, however, reached its destination at Satapada after replacing the snag-hit machine with the help of local fishermen, said a police officer of Krushna Prasad block.
Passenger boats operating on the 6-km long stretch between Janhikuda and Satapada frequently get stuck and develop technical snags due to shallow water, sources said. Locals have been for long demanding construction of a bridge for a safe journey.
“Residents of over 90 villages in Krushna Prasad block are taking risks to cross the lake in boats due to the lack of road connectivity,” said Subash Jena, who had spearheaded an agitation for construction of a bridge over the lagoon.
With the formation of BJP govts at the state and Centre, residents hope their long-standing demand of a bridge over the Chilika is fulfilled.
“Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, while addressing an election rally at Krushna Prasad last month, had assured construction of two bridges over the Chilika under Bharatmala project, one of which will connect Ganjam with Puri district,” said Jena.
“He had assured the work will start from Oct. We hope construction of bridge over the Chilika will start soon,” he added.

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