India-Pak tensions spark Bay of Bengal coastal alert in South Bengal’s Sundarban region

In the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan since Thursday, coastal areas in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district have been placed on high alert. The Sundarban Police District has initiated continuous surveillance operations across multiple sensitive zones including Gangasagar, Namkhana, Patharpratima, Canning, Gosaba, Basanti, and the coastal Bati region. From Friday morning, dedicated coastal police stations have been patrolling riverine and sea-connected areas using speedboats to enhance maritime vigilance.

Sundarban Police Superintendent Koteshwar Rao stated that coastal police stations had been pre-alerted in view of the war-like situation, with specific instructions to intensify security and keep a close watch on the Bay of Bengal. “In the event of war, we are prioritizing the security of coastal regions and maintaining watch over the Bay of Bengal,” he said. The alert covers both sea and river routes where movement is being monitored closely for any irregular activity. The operations include increased patrolling in key entry points and vulnerable zones in the district.

Surveillance is ongoing in all major tidal and island zones within the police district jurisdiction. The coastal alert spans across multiple administrative blocks, and all available police resources including patrol boats and field officers have been deployed. Additional caution is being exercised in areas where riverine access connects to the sea, with the entire coastline being monitored from early morning hours.