Tourists rescued after boat mishap at Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary lake, safety concerns raised

A major accident was narrowly averted at the Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary lake on Sunday when a pedal boat carrying four tourists stopped working in the middle of the lake, leaving the passengers stranded for a considerable time.

Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary lake located under Bishalgarh Sub-division of Tripura’s Sepahijala District.

According to reports, the boat malfunctioned unexpectedly while the tourists were enjoying a ride, causing panic as they remained stuck far from the shore without assistance. 

Eyewitnesses said the group tried calling for help, but no forest personnel or emergency staff were immediately available at the scene.

Upon receiving information, a team from the Bishalgarh Fire Brigade rushed to the spot and successfully rescued all four tourists. Fortunately, none of them sustained physical injuries, but the incident caused widespread panic among other visitors.

The absence of forest staff and security personnel at such a popular tourist destination drew criticism from both the affected tourists and other visitors. Many expressed frustration over the delayed response and accused the forest department of negligence.

 “This could have ended very badly. There was no one to help. What if it had been a medical emergency?” said a tourist who witnessed the incident.

In the wake of the incident, serious questions have been raised about the overall management and safety protocols in place at Sepahijala. 

Locals and tourists alike have called for immediate improvements to ensure such lapses do not recur.