Gigantic sea waves have swept away a 100-metre stretch of the beach at the Chaitanay Chhack near the Swargadwar in Puri in last two days, posing a threat for complete erosion of the narrow sand bed there.
As many as 100 out of 100 temporary shops have already been shifted as the sea has washed away 10-foot high sand. Usually, the place remains overcrowded as most of the visitors come to buy conches and seashell-made items.
This part of the beach is largely used for bathing by people who cremate bodies of their relatives at the Swargadwar.
Now, local residents as well as shopkeepers are panicky over the erosion.
Meanwhile, the Puri district administration has imposed restriction on entry into the affected area. lifeguards have been pressed into service to avoid any untoward incidents.
It may be noted that such beach erosion due to high tides had occurred at Baliapanda on the Puri sea beach in 2007. Then, the sea had eroded the sand bed till the beach road.