Cuttack, May 18: French tourist Catherine Huder, 52, was admitted to the drug de-addition centre in mental health institute complex of SCB Medical College and Hospital here today.

She was admitted to the state-run hospital after intervention of the Puri district administration.

Catherine, whose visa had expired in February, had got all her money exhausted and was forced to beg on streets of Puri.

Later, a social activist had rescued the foreign national and brought the incident to the notice of officials of Puri police, who then contacted the French Consulate in Calcutta.

A senior official of the French Consulate in Calcutta, who had come here to get her admitted at SCB hospital today, told The Telegraph that efforts would shortly be made to take back Catherine to her country after her condition improved.

Official sources said Catherine was frequently visiting Puri, where she had been staying for the past seven years.

The tourist had started to beg on streets after her money was exhausted and was staying in various Mutts and ashrams in Puri and Konark. Moreover, Catherine had allegedly started consuming drugs as she was going through mental trauma.

“The foreign national was earlier staying at a hotel in Puri. Later, no accommodation was given to her as she had not cleared her bills amounting to over Rs 10,000,” said Janmajay Routray, a disciple of Mangleswar ashram at Konark.

Routray said Catherine had stayed at the ashram whenever she visited Konark. She had been staying in and around Puri for the past eight months.