In a heartbreaking incident at Puri’s coastline, a woman and her son lost their lives to powerful rip currents while enjoying a sea bath. The victims, identified as Kusum Gupta and her son Ankit Gupta from Ranchi in Jharkhand, were part of a family outing when the tragedy struck.
According to reports, the family was bathing near the Pink House on Chakra Tirtha Road beach early in the morning. A massive wave accompanied by a rip current suddenly pulled Kusum deeper into the sea. In a desperate attempt to rescue his mother, Ankit jumped in after her, only to be swept away by the same forceful current.
The family’s cries for help alerted nearby private lifeguards and local fishermen, who bravely ventured into the waters to retrieve the duo. They were rushed to Puri Hospital for emergency treatment, but doctors declared both dead on arrival. The incident has cast a pall of grief over the hospital, with family members and onlookers in shock.
This is not the first such mishap at C.T. beach, where the absence of deployed lifeguards has been a recurring concern. Locals and tourists alike are demanding immediate action from the district administration to enhance safety measures, including the deployment of trained lifeguards to prevent future tragedies.
Rip currents, often invisible and deadly, are a common hazard along Odisha’s beaches, especially during high tide. Authorities urge beachgoers to swim only in designated safe zones and heed warning signs.
