CAB President Ganguly Say Thank To Lord Jagannath, Safe After Boat Accident

Snehasish Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the older brother of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and his wife Arpita were in danger of dying when their motorboat wrecked close to Puri's Lighthouse Beach in Odisha on the evening of May 24, 2025. The couple and three other visitors were trapped underwater for almost 20 minutes after a huge wave overturned the boat about 100 meters off the coast.

What Was Happening To Them?

As Snehasish has done for over 30 years, the couple was on their yearly trip to the Jagannath Temple. Around 5:30 PM, they decided to take an unplanned boat ride and, along with a few other people, got into a 10-seater speed boat. The boat operator reassured them of safety despite Arpita's worries about the wild seas.

A strong wave hit shortly after the boat was launched, turning it over and trapping the people within. The ship was later righted by another wave, which let everyone on board get out. Local divers and alert lifeguards worked quickly to rescue everyone involved. Given that the tragedy happened near shore and during the day, these soldiers' quick response was essential.

Snehasis statement after survive in the boat accident

Snehasish said, "I thank Lord Jagannath. This is sort of a second life for us," expressing his sincere thanks for their survival. For us, this is like a second life. 

Still shocked by the incident, Arpita scolded the boat operator for continuing in spite of the dangers and said she would write to the Puri Superintendent of Police and the Odisha Chief Minister to demand more stringent safety regulations for water-based travel.

Arpita And Snehasis Safe Return To Kolkata

Arpita and Snehasish have both made a safe return to Kolkata. Discussions about the need for stronger safety laws and monitoring of coastal tourism operations have been raised by the event.