Bhubaneswar, Oct 28: In a shocking incident, a lifeguard stationed at Puri Beach was injured on Tuesday after being allegedly assaulted by a tourist couple for preventing them from entering the sea. The state government had temporarily banned sea bathing as a safety measure due to rough sea conditions caused by Cyclone ‘Montha’.

According to reports, the lifeguard advised the couple not to venture into the turbulent waters, but the tourists became aggressive and attacked him with slippers, resulting in minor injuries. The lifeguard was later rescued by fellow personnel and taken for medical attention. Police have been informed, and an investigation is underway.

The assault has sparked widespread condemnation from locals and officials, who emphasized that the restrictions were imposed solely to protect lives. Lifeguards and Fire Service teams remain deployed across 14 vulnerable zones along the coast to ensure public safety.

Cyclone ‘Montha’, moving north-northwest at around 15 km/h, is expected to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada. Authorities have appealed to tourists to strictly follow safety advisories and avoid entering the sea until conditions normalize.

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