Bhubaneswar, July 13 -- With lakhs of devotees and tourists expected to visit Puri, Odisha during the upcoming Rath Yatra, lifeguards on Monday conducted mock rescue drills on the city's sea beach as part of preparations to ensure the safety of visitors during the festival.

The exercise is being carried out by the Puri Lifeguard Association, with lifeguards practising different rescue techniques to deal with emergencies that may arise due to rough sea conditions or overcrowding at the beach.

During the mock drill, lifeguards demonstrated how to quickly reach a person struggling in the sea, safely bring them back to the shore and provide immediate first aid before shifting them for further medical treatment if required. The exercise is a...