Ranchi/Puri: What was meant to be a holiday getaway turned into a devastating tragedy for a prominent family from Ranchi after a mother and her only son drowned while bathing in the sea at Puri, Odisha, on Saturday morning.
The incident occurred at the Pink House area on Chakratirtha Road, where Kusum Gupta (45) and her son Ankit Gupta (20) were swept away by strong waves and a rip current. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Ranchi’s RSS community, while also raising serious questions about beach safety arrangements in the popular coastal town.
A Tragic Turn of Events
According to eyewitnesses, around 8.30 am, a sudden surge of high waves accompanied by a powerful rip current pulled Kusum Gupta into deeper waters. Seeing his mother in distress, Ankit leapt into the sea in a desperate attempt to save her.
Despite his courageous effort, the “invisible force” of the rip current overpowered both of them, dragging them further into the sea. Hearing the family’s cries for help, private lifeguards and local fishermen rushed into the water and managed to retrieve both victims.
They were immediately taken to a hospital in Puri, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
Mourning in Ranchi
Ankit Gupta, who was preparing for competitive examinations, was described as a bright student and socially active young man. He was the family’s only son and sole support. His residence in Dhruva, Ranchi, now lies silent, with RSS workers and well-wishers calling the loss irreparable.
The mother–son bond and Ankit’s ultimate sacrifice have left an indelible mark, serving as a painful reminder of the dangers posed by the sea, even when conditions appear calm.
Understanding Rip Currents
A rip current is a narrow but extremely powerful channel of water flowing from the shore back into the deep sea.
-
Common misconception: Rip currents often form in areas where the water looks deceptively calm, leading tourists to assume it is safe.
-
Survival advice: If caught in a rip current, swimmers should not attempt to swim directly back to shore. Instead, they should swim parallel to the beach to escape the current, conserving energy and reducing the risk of drowning.
Calls for Urgent Safety Reforms
In the aftermath of the tragedy, local residents and safety experts have urged the district administration to implement stronger preventive measures:
-
Red-flag zones: Declare rip-current-prone areas as no-go zones and clearly mark them with red flags.
-
Digital warning boards: Install real-time digital displays showing weather conditions and wave intensity.
-
Lifeguard towers: Deploy government-trained lifeguards at intervals of every 200 metres, especially in deceptively calm but dangerous zones like Chakratirtha Road.
-
Drone surveillance: Use drones during peak hours to monitor sea conditions and tourist activity.
As Puri continues to attract thousands of visitors daily, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety infrastructure and public awareness to prevent similar incidents in the future.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.