Visakhapatnam:Two hovercrafts landing at Rushikonda beach on Thursday attracted the attention of beachgoers, with many rushing to the shore to watch the vessels.

The vessels are reported to be Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) operated by the Indian Coast Guard. The amphibious craft are used for coastal surveillance, search and rescue operations, maritime law enforcement and disaster response.

The Coast Guard has a district headquarters in Visakhapatnam and operates hovercraft squadrons at Haldia in West Bengal and Mandapam in Tamil Nadu.

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) had also proposed deploying hovercrafts and seaplanes to promote beach tourism.

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