Forest officials made elaborate arrangements for smooth

and safe nesting on the beach. The entire area was divided into 32 sectors. Forest personnel and volunteers have been deployed in each sector for counting the eggs. Mass nesting was reported in 13 sectors, a senior officer said. � They also provided protection to the eggs in absence of mother turtles, the DFO said. After laying eggs, the female turtles go back to the deep sea without waiting to see the hatchlings, which generally emerge around 45 days of nesting.� � "The local people in the area are cooperating with the forest personnel to protect the eggs," said Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary of the Rushikulya Sea Turtles Protection Committee. Around 100 school children had cleaned the beach last week to facilitate the mass nesting. Besides, the river Rushikulya mouth and Gahiramatha, Devi river mouth on the Odisha coast is also another famous mass nesting site for the Olive Ridley turtles.