Over 50 Rescued After Boat Breaks Down Midway in Chilika Lake
Satapada, November 3, 2025: A boat carrying more than 50 passengers stalled in the middle of Chilika Lake on Monday, triggering panic and a swift rescue operation.
The vessel, en route from Satapada to Janhikuda, suffered a mechanical failure mid-journey, leaving passengers—including children—stranded for nearly two hours.
Local rescue teams responded promptly, ensuring all passengers were safely brought ashore. This incident follows another breakdown earlier in the day near Mahinsakuda, where a cracked machine slab left a separate boat adrift.
Despite repeated warnings from locals and past tragedies—including fatal capsizings in 2018 and 2020—safety measures remain lax.
Thousands cross the 5-kilometre stretch daily without life jackets, emergency protocols, or proper vessel maintenance. Overloaded boats and outdated equipment continue to pose serious risks.
Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, is a vital transport route for coastal communities. However, the absence of regulatory oversight and emergency infrastructure has turned routine travel into a gamble with public safety.
Authorities are once again under pressure to enforce stricter safety norms and upgrade transport standards across the lake.
