In a terrifying incident on Sunday, Snehasish Ganguly, elder brother of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and his wife Arpita narrowly escaped a tragic accident when their speedboat overturned during a recreational ride off the Puri beach in Odisha.
The couple was participating in water sports along with a group of tourists when the incident occurred. Video footage from the beach shows lifeguards rushing to the scene, battling strong waves as they attempted to rescue those involved.
Following the incident, Arpita spoke to the media and expressed her anguish over the mismanagement by the boat operators.
She stated that despite the boat being designed to carry up to 10 passengers, only 3-4 people were allowed onboard, which she claimed made it unstable and more vulnerable to overturning.
“The sea was rough. I even asked the operator whether it was safe to venture out. He assured me there would be no issue. But the boat was sent out last, and it was too light. A large wave struck it, causing it to flip,” she alleged.
Arpita further claimed that had the boat been loaded to its proper capacity, the accident may have been avoided. She recounted her traumatic experience, saying, “A lifeguard rescued me. I was in shock throughout the night and couldn’t sleep.”
After being brought safely to shore, she demanded to see the boat operators’ licenses, but said they failed to provide them. She has called on the Odisha government to take strict action against such unsafe operators, especially given the rough sea conditions in Puri.
“The authorities should ban such unregulated operators. They are putting the lives of tourists at risk. I plan to write to the Puri Superintendent of Police and the Chief Minister of Odisha to raise my concerns,” Arpita said.
According to official sources, the Ganguly family has also informed the West Bengal administration about the incident. Meanwhile, police officials in Puri stated that they are currently verifying the details of the incident and may file a case following the investigation.
Puri, renowned for the sacred Jagannath Temple, is a prominent pilgrimage and tourist destination that attracts lakhs of visitors annually. Many tourists also flock to its beaches, where water sports are increasingly popular.
However, safety remains a pressing concern. As per data shared in the Odisha Legislative Assembly in March by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a total of 47 drowning incidents have been reported across Puri and other Odisha beaches in the past five years.
This latest incident has sparked renewed calls for improved regulations, better safety protocols, and stricter oversight of water sports operators in one of India’s most visited coastal regions.
