Sea made a forward march for the first time post-Hudhud creating panic among morning walkers and onlookers on Thursday. Sea surge though has become a regular phenomena, Thursday’s development was unusual in many ways as water almost touched the road near YMCA, Kursura Submarine Museum, and RK Beach.
“We were shocked to see the extent of sea surge without any system in the Bay as it happened five weeks after the severe cyclonic storm Hudhud,” M.V. Somasekhar, a cable operator of MVP Colony, said.
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Some even had a fun of crossing backwaters and completing their morning walk near it with the reflection of sunrise on it (backwaters).
Scientists of National Institute of Oceanography at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre said it was a seasonal phenomena while admitting that there was heavy erosion on the north of submarine museum and RK Beach.
High tides “Today being ‘Traoyodasi’, there are high tides. This will continue for next four days. The current level will be very high during the current season,” NIO senior scientist V.S.N. Murthy told The Hindu.
Post-Hudhud, NIO has collected satellite and water samples off Visakhapatnam and Atchutapuram coasts for a detailed study. Percentage of oxygen, nutrients and other components in water will be analysed. “Our study will continue for sometime,” Dr. Murthy said.
Sea erosion has remained a matter of concern for several years with the caving in of a boundary wall of submarine museum hogging the limelight early this year. Experts from Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station were engaged to install geo-tubes to arrest erosion near the submarine museum.
Officials of Dredging Corporation of India said post-Hudhud the vulnerable areas need massive beach nourishment to overcome the problem of erosion.
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