Bhubaneswar, Aug. 14: A two-member expert team from IIT, Chennai, today inspected the Puri beach to study the violent behaviour of the sea these days.

Sources said the team comprising Ram Kumar and Kadir Rawan observed the nature of the tide. They also spoke to the local fishermen and enquired about the timing of the high tides.

Over the past few weeks, residents of the beach town have been witnessing aggressive behaviour of the sea with waves advancing towards the road and human habitations. The vendors and makeshift shopkeepers on the beach have been forced to relocate.

This development compelled the Puri district administration to inform the state government and seek expert advice.

A two-member team from the state water resources department headed by its engineer-in-chief J.B. Mohapatra had visited the erosion sites following which the state government decided to seek the assistance of IIT, Chennai, to arrest the sea erosion.

The IIT team also studied the change of the course of Mangala river, which falls into the sea near Puri beach. While the original mouth of the river has been buried, a new mouth has opened around 100 metres away.

The visiting team took video pictures and still photographs of the original river mouth and the new one.

"We visited the place of erosion. Efforts to protect the river has led to this erosion, which usually occur during August to October," said Kumar.

In the past few days, over 200 metres of the beach have already been gobbled up by the tidal waves, sparking panic among visitors.

The district administration has put up red flags along the vulnerable stretch of the beach, restricting the entry of tourists. Vendors have also been asked to relocate.

Police patrolling on the beach has been beefed up while the administration is keeping a close watch on the sea waves.

Usually, high tides are observed during full moon and new moon days. As the new moon day is nearing, high tides are expected in the coming days.