It felt like a recap of what had happened months earlier – huge waves crashing on the beach, eroding coastline and, within a matter of time, a major portion of the footpath caving in. Scores of visitors and tourists who had gathered there to spend the last day of the year by the beachside watched in disbelief as the waves surged towards the coast, eating away parts of the footpath near Kursura Museum at Beach Road on Wednesday.
A team of policemen jumped into action and cordoned off the area.
Traffic was restricted along the Beach Road from 5 p.m. itself to prevent people from moving close to the affected area as the threat of the remaining extent of footpath also caving in loomed large.
“We can’t believe that such a big portion of footpath has collapsed again. This is worse than what we saw in February,” said Vikram, a banker who was there with his friends and witnessed the footpath collapse.
Previously, the same portion of the footpath was re-built after it had collapsed in February.
The Hindu had recently reported that beach erosion was likely to be more pronounced this year due to the severity of the cyclone Hudhud as a result of which there was huge loss of beach stretch. “There is no sand left to arrest erosion on the stretch near Kursura Museum. Also, the lower part of the footpath towards the beach is not strong enough to withstand the waves. Measures need to be taken to strengthen the lower part, else the beach road will be badly affected,” Scientist in-charge of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) V.S.N. Murty told The Hindu. “Winds are very strong from the northeast. If such weather continues, it may lead to further damage and beach erosion in the coming days,” experts say.
Mr. Murty said creating a sloppy sand stretch would help the waves break on the off-shore thereby arresting erosion.
The Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) is conducting a detailed study of the physical model of Visakhapatnam beach to provide a long-term solution.
“An area-wise study is needed. However, the process of creating a solution must be sped up to prevent permanent loss of beach cover,” Mr Murty added.
