Gangasagar Mela: Indian Coast Guard Rescues 140 Pilgrims As Ferry Boat With 400 Runs Aground; Visuals Surface

Gangasagar Mela: Indian Coast Guard Rescues 140 Pilgrims As Ferry Boat With 400 Runs Aground; Visuals Surface

The pilgrims were returning from Gangasagar after taking a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti

ANIUpdated: Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 12:28 PM IST
article-image
Gangasagar Mela: Indian Coast Guard Rescues 140 Pilgrims As Ferry Boat With 400 Runs Aground | ANI

The Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday launched a major rescue operation after a ferry boat with 400 pilgrims ran ground off Namkhana, Kakdwip area near Gangasagar pilgrimage in West Bengal. The Coast Guard deployed hovercrafts from Haldia and so far, around 140 pilgrims have been rescued and operations are still going on, the Indian Coast Guard said.
The pilgrims were returning from Gangasagar after taking a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Their boat ran aground due to poor visibility, it added.

Devotees throng WB's Sagardwip
Meanwhile, devotees thronged Sagardwip in West Bengal during Gangasagar Mela on Makar Sankranti and took a holy dip. The auspicious day adds to the festive atmosphere, amplifying the cultural and religious importance of the gathering. Situated just off the Bengal coast, Sagardwip has exceptional beauty and religious significance. The confluence of the Ganga River and the Bay of Bengal imparts a unique spiritual charm to this location.

2nd largest fair after Kumbh Mela
The second-largest fair after Kumbh Mela, the Gangasagar Mela starts on the pious day of Makar Sankranti, which generally falls between January 14 and 15 every year and concludes on January 17.
The annual fair at one of the oldest and leading pilgrimage sites in the country draws devotees every year, who also take a holy dip in the sacred waters of the Ganga at Sagardweep, from where the river merges with the Bay of Bengal.

RECENT STORIES

Uttar Pradesh News: Thieves Cook Maggi, Relax In AC Before Robbing House In Lucknow's Indira Nagar

Uttar Pradesh News: Thieves Cook Maggi, Relax In AC Before Robbing House In Lucknow's Indira Nagar

Shia Board Urges PM Modi To Rescue Stranded Indian Pilgrims In Iran & Israel

Shia Board Urges PM Modi To Rescue Stranded Indian Pilgrims In Iran & Israel

UP Panchayat Elections 2026: 504 Gram Panchayats Reduced Amid Urban Expansion; Direct Polls For Key...

UP Panchayat Elections 2026: 504 Gram Panchayats Reduced Amid Urban Expansion; Direct Polls For Key...

Congress Eyes ‘Respectable Alliance’ In 2027 UP Polls Amid Sangathan Srijan Campaign: General...

Congress Eyes ‘Respectable Alliance’ In 2027 UP Polls Amid Sangathan Srijan Campaign: General...

Rough Landing Of Saudi Airlines Haj Flight In Lucknow Sparks Panic, DGCA Orders Probe

Rough Landing Of Saudi Airlines Haj Flight In Lucknow Sparks Panic, DGCA Orders Probe