Tourists for better safety measures at Visakhapatnam beach

Visakhapatnam : 11/08/2010: A family enjoying at the Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam on August 11, 2010 in the early hours of Wednesday even as a newly kept danger board can be seen in the foreground. The board was put up following the death of five students.---Photo: K.R. Deepak

The magnetic charm of the sea draws people from every part of the world. But the lure of the sea may also turn into a deadly trap. The rise in the number of deaths owing to drowning in the sea along the Vizag beach has alarmed all. Concerned by the high number drowning deaths in the last few weeks, a large gathering was organised on Tuesday at the R.K. Beach in which dignitaries from different fields came forward urging the people to refrain from venturing into the sea.

While authorities have geared up to address the issue by placing warning boards along the beach, the tourists feel a lot more needs to be done to provide a support system in times of crisis and also to keep a vigil along the beach. Says Abhiroop Sinha, a tourist from Kolkata,

“We come here to spend some good time with family and friends. But warning boards do not serve the purpose when it comes to monitoring the crowd in the beach. Most tourists, like us, are not aware of the danger zones.

There should be coast guards or lifeguards and other support staff who can guide the tourists to safer places in the beach and prevent them from venturing into the sea.” Many tourists like Abhiroop feel the need to have a proper monitoring system in the beach apart from warning boards.

Time to act

The magnificent Bay of Bengal and the serene verdant valleys of the Eastern Ghats in Araku in all its regal splendour have been one of the top tourist hot spots. But, safeguarding the lives of people along the beach and implementing proper measures are crucial to retain the popularity of Vizag beaches and make a place on the tourism map of the world.

“Tourism Department, hotel industry and authorities like municipal corporation must all get together to formulate a safety plan. There are no statistics of drowning deaths mentioned anywhere along the beach. Keeping statistics along with warnings will alert the tourists and visitors to the beach. Unless all authorities join hands together and device a proper plan, many lives will be at risk,” says Sita Manikyam of Department of Law, Andhra University, who lost her nephew recently due to drowning in the sea.