Come summer, Marina Beach becomes a hotspot of Chennaiites fleeing the heat. The waters of the Bay of Bengal are inviting and they are tempted to take a dip. That keeps the policemen on tenterhooks since drowning incidents show an uptick just when the mercury level soars.
“In 2018 till date, a total of 11 cases of drowning were reported in the Anna Square police station limits. Out of this, seven victims were in the age group of 14 - 20,” says a police officer. In 2017, a total of 22 drowning incidents were registered in the same station.
Even last week, two teenagers drowned in the sea in Anna Square police station limits, when they went for a swim along with their friends. Their bodies were washed ashore.
Meanwhile in the Marina police station, two drowning incidents have been reported in 2018. In 2017, it was 10.
“The sea is dangerous between Kannagi statue and Napier Bridge,” said a police officer.
In February, S. Prajeesh, 16-year-old hockey player from Coonoor, drowned in Marina Beach. Following this incident, a public interest litigation was filed in the Madras High Court and the Court directed the State government to consider the possibility of setting up temporary watch towers with materials such as bamboo on all beaches, apart from engaging the services of expert swimmers, to prevent drowning. It also sought a report by April 2 on steps taken so far to prevent deaths by drowning.
“There are four all terrain vehicles patrolling the shore and the mounted patrol chases away people entering the sea for a swim. Despite this, people enter the sea and pay no heed to our warning. They don’t realise it is dangerous,” said a police officer from Anna Square police station.
When crowds throng
He said that drowning is more in April and May as a huge crowd throngs the beach to beat the heat and enjoy the summer holidays. “We want the government to allocate funds and employ life guards in the beach. Permanent watch towers should also be erected,” the police officer added.
Ship wreckage
Some policemen believe that many get trapped in the the wreckage of Stematis, a Liberian cargo ship, which ran aground on the sands behind the Labour Statue following a cyclone in 1966.
Rajadurai from Gingee, who visited the beach along with his family on Wednesday said that the police should first replace the warning boards.
“Some of them have faded. The boards should also carry pictorial warning to create fear among youngsters,” he said.
