When one talks of lifeguards, most people picture well-built men roaming the beach and jumping into choppy waters in a heartbeat to save drowning swimmers.
But the lives of lifeguards on Chennai’s beaches are not as glamorous as portrayed on T.V. and in films.
Most often, it is fishermen from hamlets along the coastline who are deployed as lifeguards. There are at least 10 of them on the Elliot’s beach. But along the Marina, lifeguards are engaged only during festivals, when huge crowds turn up, or in the event of a drowning accident.
“The lifeguards at Elliot’s have set up food stalls on the beach. They are there from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. but do not get any stipend. We provide them with tea and snacks,” says a police officer.
However, at the Marina, the police believe in prevention. “We have tied ropes to prevent people from entering the sea. Despite this, some of them manage to sneak in and go for a swim. We chase them away,” the policeman says.
Horse-mounted police personnel patrol the sands throughout the day to prevent people from entering the sea. “There is a beach bike being used on a trial basis for surveillance,” the officer says.
He feels it will be better if the government employs lifeguards on a permanent basis. “The fishermen are expert swimmers. A watch-tower can be set up on all the beaches to monitor the crowds,” says the officer.
