Kolkata, 26 May (H.S.): Snehasish Ganguly, elder brother of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), and his wife Arpita narrowly escaped a serious boat accident in Puri, Odisha. The couple was vacationing in Puri when the boat they were on capsized due to imbalance in rough sea conditions. Fortunately, both were rescued safely in time.
Efforts to contact Snehasish after the incident were unsuccessful. However, CAB official Sanjay Das confirmed the incident to Hindusthan Samachar, stating, “Yes, such an incident occurred, but there was no major harm. Both are completely safe.”
A video of the incident has surfaced showing lifeguards rushing to the scene and launching immediate rescue operations. According to reports, all passengers on board the boat were rescued safely.
Arpita Ganguly held the boat operators responsible for the mishap. “The sea was extremely rough and the boat had a capacity of 10 people. However, the operators overloaded it due to greed. We were on the last ride of the day and had specifically asked if it was safe to go out in such weather. They assured us there was no issue,” she said.
She added that the boat overturned shortly after it entered deeper waters. “If the lifeguards hadn't arrived on time, we might not have survived. This was the most terrifying experience of my life. Had the boat not been overcrowded, the accident could have been avoided.”
Following the ordeal, Arpita demanded an inquiry and called for a ban on water sports activities at Puri beach. “The sea in Puri is extremely dangerous. These activities must be stopped. Once I return to Kolkata, I will write to the Superintendent of Police and the Chief Minister of Odisha, urging them to impose a ban on such risky ventures in the area,” she said.
Snehasish Ganguly is currently occupied with the Bengal Pro T20 League and upcoming CAB elections. The brief vacation turned into a harrowing experience for the couple—one they are unlikely to forget.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
