More than 5,000 tourists were evacuated from Puri beach on Wednesday as police cleared a nearly 9-km stretch of shoreline ahead of Cyclone Arnab’s landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, amid heavy rain, gusty winds and extremely turbulent seas.
The evacuation followed repeated warnings from the administration asking tourists and residents not to enter the sea or visit the beach unnecessarily during the cyclone-related alert. Police said many visitors had continued to gather along the shoreline to photograph the rough sea, record social media videos and, in some cases, attempt to enter the water.
Multiple foot patrol teams were deployed from Penthakota to the Sipasarubali New Marine Drive beach area. Police personnel used handheld sirens and whistles to alert visitors and persuade them to return to their hotels or move to other safe locations. The operation was supervised by SP Puri Prateek Singh, DSP (city) Rashmiranjan Mohapatra and inspectors-in-charge of the Sea Beach, Baliapanda and Penthakota Marine police stations.
According to police, the sea remained highly turbulent throughout the day, with large waves reaching the shore as rainfall and wind conditions intensified. The evacuation was carried out hours before the cyclone made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, according to the report.
The administration had issued advisories on Monday and Tuesday urging people to avoid the sea and refrain from visiting the beach unless necessary. The warnings were aimed at reducing exposure to hazardous coastal conditions while the cyclone approached the region.
“Public safety was our top priority. Despite repeated announcements and advisories, many visitors gathered on the beach to witness the rough sea. Our teams had to continuously persuade them to leave the area,” SP Puri Prateek Singh was quoted as saying.
The response also extended to hotels and lodges in the tourist city. Official sources said owners and operators were asked to sensitise guests about the dangers posed by the cyclone and discourage them from visiting the beach during the warning period. The step placed accommodation providers within the local safety response, alongside police patrols and public announcements.
Puri’s long beach frontage and large tourist population make crowd control a key operational challenge during severe weather alerts. In this instance, the police operation covered the shoreline rather than a single access point, with personnel continuing to move along the coast to identify and disperse groups.
Police said intensified patrolling would continue until sea conditions improve and authorities withdraw the cyclone-related restrictions. Visitors and residents have been asked to stay away from the sea until the restrictions are lifted.
