The Puri district administration has officially suspended all water sports activities at Puri Beach following a recent boat capsize incident involving Snehasish Ganguly, elder brother of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and his wife Arpita.
The couple, who were rescued in time, publicly urged authorities to take action against unsafe adventure sports operations in the area.
In response, an investigation uncovered multiple permit violations by the beach’s only licensed boat operator. Officials found the operator conducting activities outside the designated area and operating in rough seas during high tide, endangering tourists. Consequently, the administration demolished the operator’s temporary office and issued a show-cause notice demanding justification within seven days. A criminal case is expected to be filed against the operator.
District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated, “The operator expanded operations beyond permitted zones and violated safety regulations, putting tourists at risk.” The administration is now reviewing safety regulations for water sports in Puri to ensure better enforcement in the future.
